Velvet Room MUSH Wiki - User contributions [en]

2026-11-07: A Hard Bargain

2026-11-07T20:59:35Z

Talnora: This is fine.

*'''Cutscene: A Hard Bargain'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], Kazuki Motojima (Kazusa's father), Karin Motojima (Kazusa's mother)
*'''Where:''' Motojima Residence, Shibuya Ward
*'''OOC Date:''' November 7, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, January 28, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Inspired by [[2026-10-18:_Getting_Away|her trip to Yugawara with Kanae]], Kazusa wants to plan a bigger trip for more of her friends (and acquaintances), but to do so will require access to a significant amount of funds. She approaches her father to make her case, but finds that she has to give up something to secure what she wants.''
*'''Content Warning:''' Misogyny, verbal/emotional abuse

----
<poem>
Kazusa took a deep breath to calm herself as she made one final check in the vanity mirror. Hair brushed to a sheen, perfectly straight without a strand out of place? Check. Eyebrows perfectly shaped? Check. Teeth? Check. Soft, pleated, pastel pink dress with the lace collar that she hated?

… Check.

Kazusa sighed, stepping back from the mirror, momentarily letting a frown slip through. "Alright," she muttered. "You can do this. It's just… a small favor. It won't even cost that much." She ran through the plan in her head: who to mention, who ''not'' to mention, the benefits to her father and the family's company. How she could make all the arrangements so it wouldn't even inconvenience him. It was just… a normal social outing. There was nothing objectionable about it.

That thought didn't keep her heart from pounding.

She sighed, looking out the high-rise window of her bedroom down at Shibuya below. Inside the apartment everything was consciously arranged, meticulously considered, and carefully managed. Outside, in the cold winter night, the streets and sidewalk buzzed with motion, as colorful signs and bright lights beckoned people out. After a moment, Kazusa turned away. "… you just need his blessing. That's all that matters."

No use putting it off. Kazusa stepped outside her bedroom, slippers scraping lightly against the warm hardwood floor. A clipped conversation filtered in from downstairs and Kazusa let out a tense breath. That meant her father wasn't in his office. That was lucky, for her.

She gracefully descended the staircase, forcing herself not to brace each time she stepped with her left ankle. (It was merely a sprain from her rhythmic gymnastics practice, but to show it would be proof she wasn't dedicated enough in her practice.) She found them seated at the kitchen table, both with planners open, and two cups of tea. (Tea that her mother had dutifully prepared, no doubt.)

Karin was dressed in a simple but tasteful dress and cardigan, her dark brown hair up in a delicate bun. "… next Thursday…" She turned a page. "I've entered an ikebana exhibition. It should be quite interesting, the theme is—"

"I have a dinner meeting," said Kazuki brusquely, not even looking up from his planner. He had hard features and short black hair, still dressed in his office suit, though the jacket hung up the back of the chair. "I'll need you there."

"Oh." Karin bowed her head. "My apologies, dear. I should have realized. I'll withdraw first thing tomorrow."

Kazusa's jaw tightened. ''Say something!'' she shouted in her head. ''Don't just wilt like one of your stupid flowers!'' She forced her jaw to loosen again. It wouldn't help her.

"Good," replied Kazuki. He picked up his phone and made another annotation in his planner. Finally he looked up at Kazusa waiting by the staircase, hands clasped in front of her. "Kazusa." His eyes scanned her appearance.

With her breath held, Kazusa waited for the inspection to finish. Was he on to her? Most likely, but that was just part of how this worked.

With a quiet nod, Kazuki looked back to his planner. "Don't linger. What do you want?"

''If I had said something you would have chastised me for interrupting.'' Kazusa forced a pleasant, nonconfrontational smile to her face as she stepped closer. "Otou-sama," she started. "I won't take much of your time. National Foundation Day is coming up, and I'd like to arrange a small weekend trip for myself and some of my friends. I thought I would invite Haru Okumura-senpai and Katsuko Yoshinaga-senpai, to help keep up good relations between our families. If I'm lucky I might be able to invite our class president, Makoto Niijima-senpai. Her sister is the prosecutor everyone has been talking about?"

Kazusa and Makoto weren't on particularly good terms, but if Kazusa was inviting Ann, she didn't want Ann to think she was excluding one of her friends on purpose.

Karin smiled softly at her daughter, and reached out to place a hand over her husband's arm. "Oh, doesn't that sound lovely, dear? Our Kazusa has been so troubled recently, maybe this is what she needs to get through this rough patch."

'Troubled' in this case meant having one Homunculus hijack her life for a month, and then a second Homunculus throwing her against a wall in a very public display to demand a ''dogeza''-style apology. An incident Kazuki had blamed ''her'' for, naturally. For 'leading him on'.

"Mmm." Kazuki's frown deepened a few degrees. "That woman is doing the work of a man," he muttered.

Kazusa winced internally, but forced her expression to stay mildly pleasant. She'd hoped Sae Niijima's prosecutorial record would be a strong enough feat to impress her father, but she'd miscalculated.

"… however, we ''have'' enjoyed good business dealings with the Okumuras," continued Kazuki, regarding Kazusa critically as he set his planner down. He brushed Karin's hand off his arm and then steepled his fingers. "And Yoshinaga... her father is with that cybersecurity firm, correct?"

"Hai, otou-sama," said Kazusa with a small nod.

Kazuki's eyes narrowed. "And you will doubtlessly wish to invite ''other'' friends. And to put the expenses on your credit card."

Oh no. Something clammy clutched her heart in her chest. She had to get ahead of the narrative. "Oh, of course, I need to invite more than just them. I need to invite some of their friends along, to earn their favor. And I've already found a traditional ryokan in Yugawara able to accommodate my group. They're offering an exclusive wing and access to private facilities, though of course they're eager to finalize the arrangements…"

"I'm sure you have." Kazuki folded his arms on the table. "… but don't think you'll be getting off lightly. If you wish to enjoy the benefits of our family's success it's high time you started earning your keep."

Of ''course'' he would want something. Why did she think vague promises of familial ties or the lure of a traditional ryokan would be enough? But what more could he ask of her? Kazusa straightened her posture and forced her smile to keep from drooping. "Oh, of course, otou-sama. What did you have in mind?"

"… You lack discipline," Kazuki said after a long moment. "You missed your winter training camps, and you didn't compete in your last meet."

Kazusa knew better than to argue about the doctor advising rest; ''that'' argument would get her nowhere, and just bring up the point about 'leading on' Shinichi again. "I competed in the group category, otou-sama. It was decided to send Yoshizawa-san as a solo performer because she needed to prove—"

She instantly regretted the sentence the moment she started it. The ridiculous timing of the faculty's demands on Kasumi—not to mention the demands themselves—weren't something she wanted to reinforce. ''Sorry, Yoshizawa-chan.''

Kazuki cut her off. "Her problems are not your concern. Your sole concern is maintaining your own reputation. Do I make myself clear?"

Kazusa bowed her head. "… hai, otou-sama." So much for winning first place.

"Regardless. I see now I have to take a more hands-on approach, if you won't show the proper discipline on your own." Kazuki opened his planner again. Without looking up he said, "We're launching the new Cosmos line soon. If you want to take your trip, you'll pay for it by appearing in some of the promotional material." He leveled a flat stare at his daughter. "Dishonor our company's image, and I'll be forced to take more restrictive measures. Do I make myself clear?"

It wasn't an offer. It wasn't even a request. If she tried to back out of the trip, he'd call her unserious and flighty. If she tried to argue back against the 'payment' for the trip…

It wasn't fair. She knew how much her family was worth. A trip like this was almost inconsequential, but her father had to make everything difficult. And if she argued…

… no, it was safer not to. And besides, maybe, just maybe, if the product launch was a success, her father…

Kazusa kept her head bowed. "… hai, otou-sama," she said in a small voice.

"Good." Kazuki made an annotation in his planner. "Is that all?"

"Hai." Kazusa took a careful step back. "Thank you for your time, otou-sama. Have a good night." She turned and made her way back up the stairs, holding back the welling of emotions until she was safely in her room.
</poem>

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-11-05: Striking Back

2026-11-06T05:15:14Z

Talnora: Added a small content warning

*'''Log: Striking Back'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Arisu Aizawa]], [[Ririka Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Gekkoukan High School - Classroom Building
*'''OOC Date:''' November 05, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, February 04, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Arisu is back and school, and... she's a lot more confident than before. Ririka finds this out when she goes to check on the formerly-missing girl, but learns the startling truth of her disappearance: a new kind of supernatural space.''
*'''Content Warning:''' Threatened eye injury

----

(|================ Gekkoukan High School - Classroom Building ================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
Gekkoukan High School features a rich and lavish atrium which blends modern and
classical architecture, with wide-open windows welcoming students into an
entrance hall with massive Grecian pillars and an impressive stained-glass wall
at its other end. The Sword and Staff Statues displayed prominently here are a
popular meet-up point! Here, as well, one can find the event bulletin board,
various faculty and club rooms, the nurse's office... and most importantly, the
school store, where one can buy Gekkoukan's various popular breads. A classical
stone corridor outside passes by a beloved Persimmon tree in a garden where
students can relax on benches, before leading students to the gymnasium, where
one can enjoy the indoor swimming pool and running track available here.

Up the stairs, the halls are sleek and modern, with diamond- and square-tiled
flooring and traditional sliding doors. Corkboards on the hall walls are
decorated with a dozen club posters, advertising the many after-school
activities available to students here, and water fountains at the end of the
hall are available to quench one's thirst. Inside the classrooms, one finds more
of that square tiling, on which stand desks and chairs two a row. A raised
podium allows teachers to lecture behind a blackboard or a projector screen
which can be pulled down to display their slides, while a desk off to the side
at the front of the class gives them a place to seat themselves down. The
windows are wide and expansive, covering an entire wall; there are windows
leading out into the hall, as well, and they can be slid back for the curious to
peek into the classroom. The back of the room features a second blackboard,
alongside shelving for books. (And... manga? Who put those here...?)

AS: Hana Fukami has readied for combat as Lady Rokujo! She is now fully healed!
AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed!

AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed!

AS: Suzume Fukura has readied for combat as Atalanta! She is now fully healed!
Hana Fukami says, "suzume!"

AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed!

AS: Suzume Fukura has readied for combat as Atalanta! She is now fully healed!
Suzume Fukura says, "I dunno, it seems fine to me this way"

AS: Suzume Fukura has readied for combat as Atalanta! She is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>It has been a few days since Arisu disappeared from Gekkoukan High School. Between the police, the school, and concerned parties, no one was able to really find the girl after when she supposedly ran away. It was just one of those things that could turn into a ghost story or urban legend if given enough time to fester.

However, Arisu Aizawa came to school today, sending an uproar throughout the campus. The girl who was supposedly spirited away just arrived to school this morning like nothing had happened. The school did call her to the office to answer for her whereabouts but nothing came of the chat, leaving more questions than answers.

But there was another mystery now.

Those who talked to Arisu found something off about the once kind, mousey girl. It was like talking to a different person for many of those who knew of Arisu. She was less high strung. She seemed chipper, confident, and a lot more relaxed than she was before.

But then again, her friend Ai Sakurai was also acting strange so maybe it was just them.

As the day comes to an end, Arisu exits her classroom and begins to head toward the club rooms. She is dressed in a brand new uniform, adding to the feeling that this was a new version of Arisu. She half smiles as she moves toward her destination, stopping in her tracks when her path is blocked by two other girls.

"So you're back, Aizawa...You get tired of people feeling sorry for you?" A-ko says, snickering as she moves to knock Arisu's things out of her hands. B-Ko, the other bully, is just grinning as she continues to block the way forward.

Arisu moves her stuff out of the way of her bully swipes. She doesn't seem to be as upset as she was before. She almost seems amused by all of this.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
As it happens, Ghost stories are sort of in the remit of SEES, after a fashion. Ririka had been concerned when Arisu seemingly went missing. She'd checked Tartarus with Fuuka, of course, just in case, with no luck...

But she'd definitely heard about Arisu coming back to school today. It's a relief, though it doesn't explain where she was.

She must be going through a hard time, Ririka thinks. Would she have a lot of people fussing over her? Should Ririka add on to the pile? Maybe it'd be better to give her some space...?

... No, she should at least say hi. Show Arisu a friendly face.

Ririka leaves her own classroom at the end of the day, and makes for the club rooms, hoping to find Arisu along the way. She does spot Arisu, but then also spots a too-familiar pair of girls. Ririka starts to step forward, but then stops mid-stride, blinking.

The sound of a sewing machine, weaving through the background noise of the bustling hallways. And it's coming from...

Ririka stares at Arisu in confusion, forgetting to act for a moment as sh puzzles out the new Resonance.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>"You're in my way" Arisu says flatly as she stares at her two bullys. She doesn't seem as afraid of them. She is actually smiling, almost smugly at the two girls.

"Oh? We're in your way?" A-ko almost laughs before she shoves Arisu into a wall, glaring at her. "Listen here, Bitch. I don't know what you thought you were doing running away but you got us in trouble with your little stunt." A-Ko yanks on Arisu's hair, meeting eyes with the girl. B-Ko spots Ririka and frowns. "Hey that girl with the picture is back."

"I don't care. This bitch got us dealing with the police so she can stick her picture up her as---"

Arisu suddenly seizes her bully by her collar, leaning forward as she brandishes a sewing needle next to A-Ko's eye. Arisu uses her body and her reputation as an honor student to her advantage here. Who would believe this troublemaker on what was about to happen.

"So here's whats going to happen. We're going to go our separate ways. Smoke. Date Adults for all I care...Because if you don't I'm going to give you a scar. Nothing drastic because I'm not a monster. But you'll know who gave it to you. Every time you look in the mirror."

A-ko's eye widens, seeing the needle just centimeters from fulfilling Arisu's threat. "Y,you think you're some kinda badass? Maybe I go get a teacher!"

"And tell them the girl you've been messing with...the quiet one who follows all the rules...is threatening you?" Arisu smiles and shakes her head. "Now who is the tattle tale?" She keeps the needle steady, smiling darkly at her bully. "Go tell and I'll make sure they know you're smoking on school grounds."

"O,ok! Fine. Psycho."

Arisu pats A-ko's cheek as she lets her go and shoots a smile to B-ko.

After a few moments, the girls leave, leaving Arisu quickly. She spots Ririka and waves slightly. "Oh. Hey."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
The girl with the picture. Ririka stands up a little straighter as she's spotted, ready to step in, but blinks in surprise as Arisu takes very sudden action.

A needle near the eye. "Wha--" Ririka's eyes fly open in alarm. Okay that's ''way'' too much, right!? But Arisu seems to be handling herself... and they started it??

She watches as A-Ko and B-ko run off, fingers tapping out a melody on her thigh as she hums to herself, trying to sort out what she's seen.

Her attention suddenly focuses on Arisu as she says hi. "Uh, h-hey. I was... gonna step in, but... seems like you have it handled?" She studies Arisu for a moment. "How... are you feeling? I was worried, when I'd heard you went missing."

This doesn't ''feel'' like a Homunculus situation--she remembers Taro's signature clearly. But she knows Arisu's Resonance wasn't nearly this strong hte last time they talked...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu tilts her head, a little confused by the reaction. Maybe she went too far. Maybe. She didn't really have it in her to care anymore. Stuff like this felt so minor when there were things out there like she had seen. "Thank you for your concern" She smiles at Ririka's offer, nodding as she leans against the wall.

"I'm fine...Yeah I'm sorry to have worried everyone but I had...something come up." She doesn't elaborate because how do you tell someone you were in a parallel dimension with demons and not deal with questions. All things considered, Arisu seems very calm and upbeat...something she wasn't last time.

"Thank you for last time though." She bows her head, unsure of what else to really tell this girl. It wasn't like she would understand this like Coin or Kanae....actually those two understood things more than she did so expecting that of Ririka was a tall ask.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Maybe a little too far. At least Arisu didn't actually, you know, ''follow through''. So there's that? Ririka nods a little. "You're welcome." She offers a tentative smile back.

"Yeah, I... bet you've been through a lot, huh?" If her hunch was right, that was... a definite understatement. "I'm just... glad you're okay."

Last time. "Oh, of course. I'm glad I was able to help." Ririka keeps tapping at her thigh for a moment and then takes a step closer. "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you. Do you have a moment? Maybe we can find somewhere quieter..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Would she have followed through? That is the question that Arisu is only sort of certain of. Not because of social norms, mind you. It was more the pain in the ass such an action would cause. Arisu's reputation could only carry so much.

"Yeah...it was a lot." Arisu says flatly, still smiling at the other girl. She watches the other girl with amusement. If she only knew the hell that Arisu had been through.

"Hmm? Sure. I don't think Bebe will be in the club room today so it will just be us." Arisu gestures for Ririka to follow her down the stairs and to the Fashion Club room. After a leisurely stroll, Arisu opens the door for Ririka before moving to her mannequin, which has a costume currently pinned to it. As the girl begins to work, she looks up at Ririka. "So what can I help you with?" She moves around the costume, pinning pieces of fabric into place as she occasionally looks up.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka would be oh so worried if she knew ''that'' was the reason holding Arisu back from following through on her threat. (She's already somewhat concerned.)

She might understand more than you think, Arisu.

"If that works for you, then, sure..." She'll follow along, and take a look around the Fashion Club room to make sure they're actually alone.

Arisu offers to help ''her'' and Ririka lets out a small, nervous laugh. "A-actually, I was going to ask ''you'' that. Aizawa-san, does the word 'Persona' mean anything to you?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu pauses when she hears the word, looking up at Ririka. It takes her a moment but she repeats the word as she sets a pin into the costume.

That word....Arisu knew it from a few places. First there were Coin and Fuyuki, who seemed to know a lot about the world she had found herself into. Next was the mysterious voice that said the word just before Arisu summoned Van Helsing for the first time.

So when Ririka mentions it, Arisu stops finally and considers the other girl.

It takes her a moment but a cool smile creeps onto Arisu's face as she meets eyes with the other girl. "Oh ho....I guess you know about it too. Well that makes things easy." Arisu says as she sets her pin cushion down and further considers the question.

"I don't really know much but I met a couple of people after I got out of the...place I was. I don't have the words memorized yet but Persona...yeah that's what they called that power I manifested. Hmmm, so I guess that means I can talk freely about this, yes?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka can be patient, waiting as Arisu considers the word. (Okay, not exactly patient. She's still drumming on her thigh some. But that's fine for a musician, right?

"Yeeep. I do," Ririka confirms. "I... well, I can sense something is different about you, so... I'm guessing you didn't exactly run away from home."

A couple of people... "Oh yeah? Who? If you don't mind me asking." But the place... Ririka frowns. "What was it like? Was it a tall tower, or... a weird subway system?" She's thinking of Tartarus and Mementos. It ''could'' be an Atelier, but she doesn't know of an open one at the moment.

"You can talk about it with me, though, I'd be careful not to talk about it with other people who aren't Awakened--that is, someone who's able to summon a Persona."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>"I never left school." Arisu adds, sitting down across from Ririka. "I just sort of ended up there...at this place."

"They called themselves Fuyuki and Coin and they filled me in on some of it. Granted, it was a lot to take in so I'm still not very clear on a lot of it." Arisu taps the side of her head, noting the tapping by Ririka finally.

She considers the next question. "No. It wasn't like that at all....It was a convention. A very dark, messed up one filled with these creatures who held me captive." She tilts her head as she stares at Ririka. "They made me sew and handle costumes....usually I'd be in my element but they worked me to the bone."

"Hmmm...So don't tell the normies about the hell convention that I got teleported to....actually not far from where you're sitting." Arisu smiles at the thought. "No I think I'll just keep it to myself unless someone comes up to me like you did. I'm guessing you have a way to detect the power?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
'I never left school.' "Wha--" Ririka straightens up, looking alarmed. "W-wait, really?" Ririka frowns, muttering to herself. "... but we checked Tartarus..." Out loud she says, "Can you describe it?"

Ririka's just keeping time to a melody, it's fine. But Arisu hasn't retained a lot, it seems. "That's... understandable. Supernatural experiences can be pretty overwhelming..." Fuyuki and Coin, though...

"A messed-up convention..." That's... puzzling. ''Definitely'' not Tartarus, then. A palace, maybe? No, but they couldn't have missed a palace at ''Gekkoukan''...

"... that sounds terrible. I'm sorry they put you through that."

"Pretty much," Ririka confirms. "Normal people normally forget about the supernatural when they've been exposed to it anyway, so... it's better not to tell them about it, i case that stops being true."

Not far from-- Ririka jumps a little, whirling around and looking as she reaches out with what little of her senses she can access right now. "Is--is it still here? Could someone else get drawn inside like you were...?"

"... Yeah. It might be a bit much to get into right now, but... my abilities help me sense supernatural things. But I'm not sensing..."

Maybe she needs to summon Amphion? But she can't do that until the Dark Hour, and by then the school doesn't... exist.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu doesn't react when Ririka seems confused by what she's saying. She takes in a sharp breath as she considers what she is learning. While Kawase seems to know some of what Arisu went through, she doesn't know everything. "Tartarus?" Arisu repeats, not recognizing the word in the slightest.

"Hmmm it was like a night club but it was definitely a cosplay convention... a weird one but..."

Arisu shrugs at the sympathy, smiling darkly at her friend. "I dunno...while the experience was terrible, it was...eye opening."

"So people forget about this...I'm guessing if they "awaken" then it is different?"

Arisu doesn't react when Ririka jumps. She just continues to watch the other girl. "I don't know....my friend who was with me. I checked on her when I got back and she didn't fall into there so I have no idea."

Arisu recalls Coin asking if her friend was acting weird. Today, Arisu confirmed that she was....way too chipper. Almost manic.

When Ririka mentions not sensing anything, Arisu sighs and taps her fingers on a table. "I guess Fuyuki and Coin might be the experts here....Hunters."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka blinks and looks a bit embarrassed at letting the word slip. "Uh... let... me... circle back to that. I don't want to ovewhelm you with too much at once. Did Fuyuki and Coin warn you about something called the Dark Hour?"

"Night club and cosplay convention... okay, that's definitely not any place I'm familiar with."

Ririka might miss social cues sometimes. But she's not sure what to make of that smile. She's pretty confident that's not a normal thing to not understand.

... she ''hopes'' it's not a normal thing to not understand.

"I'll. bet," she says of eye opening, a little uncertain.

"Your friend didn't fall in... that's good." Maybe whatever it is only wants certain people, or... certain kinds of people? She has nowhere near enough information to make a conjecture.

Ririka frowns thoughtfully. "Hunters... hmm. Do you have a way to contact them? I actually know a number of other Persona Users at this school, if there's something happening at Gekkoukan, I'm sure the others would like to help."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu smiles at Ririka slipping up. It was kinda cute that she was slipping up this much. She nods when the Dark Hour is mentioned. "Yeah. They mentioned it was dangerous to be without a Persona during the Dark Hour."

There is something dark about Arisu. It didn't seem particularly dangerous but it was definitely a feeling she was generating in people. Honestly, Arisu couldn't really care less about freaking out people with her new outlook. That said, she was trying not to put off Ririka since she had helped Arisu before.

She nods in agreement when her friend is mentioned. "Yes. Though I'm told that this might have something to do with her. I won't know until I meet them again."

"I do. Fuyuki-san gave me her number to discuss things when I was feeling better. I can see if they don't mind if you tag along. I was told there would be others coming too."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's puzzled and trying to figure out a new thing!

... Also she's talking with a girl who ''just'' threatened to stick a needle in another girl's eye.

"Yeah, they're right about that. Just... don't be at the school in the Dark Hour either." Though the school is usually pretty good about getting things locked up after hours, at least.

"Something to do with her... can I ask your friend's name, then?" Might be worth keeping an eye out.

Ririka nods. "That's good... and it's good to get some rest, too. Can I swap phone numbers with you so you can keep in touch? And I'll let my friends know about what's going on, so they can help."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu considers what she's being told. Something happens at school during the Dark Hour. The girl can't help but feel tempted to check that out. That was a later thing though. Right now, they needed to figure out what was up with Ai-chan...Doing that would get Arisu to the excitement she now craved.

"Ai Sakurai...2nd Year like me." Arisu responds, tapping her fingers on the table as she thinks about everything. While she seemed nonchalant about all of this, her expression was somewhat concerned when talking about Ai. It was clear that despite the front she put up, Arisu was concerned about her friend.

"Sure." Arisu takes out her phone and offers it to Ririka. "Not every day some girl gives me her phone number." Arisu jokes, laughing to herself.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's a good thing Ririka can't read thoughts. (The Navigator link doesn't count.)

"Ai Sakurai... alright. Thanks." Ririka nods. She considers for a moment... "If she's involved in this somehow, we'll do everything we can to make sure she's okay."

Ririka puts her phone number in for Arisu, texts herself, and hands the phone back. Her own phone chimes a moment later, and sh pulls it out to add Arisu as a contact. She laughs a little at Arisu's comment. "... yeah? I guess today's your lucky day, then."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-11-05: Striking Back

2026-11-06T05:10:36Z

Talnora: Ririka's not sure if she should be more worried about Arisu or the bullies now...

*'''Log: Striking Back'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Arisu Aizawa]], [[Ririka Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Gekkoukan High School - Classroom Building
*'''OOC Date:''' November 05, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, February 04, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Arisu is back and school, and... she's a lot more confident than before. Ririka finds this out when she goes to check on the formerly-missing girl, but learns the startling truth of her disappearance: a new kind of supernatural space.''

----

(|================ Gekkoukan High School - Classroom Building ================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
Gekkoukan High School features a rich and lavish atrium which blends modern and
classical architecture, with wide-open windows welcoming students into an
entrance hall with massive Grecian pillars and an impressive stained-glass wall
at its other end. The Sword and Staff Statues displayed prominently here are a
popular meet-up point! Here, as well, one can find the event bulletin board,
various faculty and club rooms, the nurse's office... and most importantly, the
school store, where one can buy Gekkoukan's various popular breads. A classical
stone corridor outside passes by a beloved Persimmon tree in a garden where
students can relax on benches, before leading students to the gymnasium, where
one can enjoy the indoor swimming pool and running track available here.

Up the stairs, the halls are sleek and modern, with diamond- and square-tiled
flooring and traditional sliding doors. Corkboards on the hall walls are
decorated with a dozen club posters, advertising the many after-school
activities available to students here, and water fountains at the end of the
hall are available to quench one's thirst. Inside the classrooms, one finds more
of that square tiling, on which stand desks and chairs two a row. A raised
podium allows teachers to lecture behind a blackboard or a projector screen
which can be pulled down to display their slides, while a desk off to the side
at the front of the class gives them a place to seat themselves down. The
windows are wide and expansive, covering an entire wall; there are windows
leading out into the hall, as well, and they can be slid back for the curious to
peek into the classroom. The back of the room features a second blackboard,
alongside shelving for books. (And... manga? Who put those here...?)

AS: Hana Fukami has readied for combat as Lady Rokujo! She is now fully healed!
AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed!

AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed!

AS: Suzume Fukura has readied for combat as Atalanta! She is now fully healed!
Hana Fukami says, "suzume!"

AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed!

AS: Suzume Fukura has readied for combat as Atalanta! She is now fully healed!
Suzume Fukura says, "I dunno, it seems fine to me this way"

AS: Suzume Fukura has readied for combat as Atalanta! She is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>It has been a few days since Arisu disappeared from Gekkoukan High School. Between the police, the school, and concerned parties, no one was able to really find the girl after when she supposedly ran away. It was just one of those things that could turn into a ghost story or urban legend if given enough time to fester.

However, Arisu Aizawa came to school today, sending an uproar throughout the campus. The girl who was supposedly spirited away just arrived to school this morning like nothing had happened. The school did call her to the office to answer for her whereabouts but nothing came of the chat, leaving more questions than answers.

But there was another mystery now.

Those who talked to Arisu found something off about the once kind, mousey girl. It was like talking to a different person for many of those who knew of Arisu. She was less high strung. She seemed chipper, confident, and a lot more relaxed than she was before.

But then again, her friend Ai Sakurai was also acting strange so maybe it was just them.

As the day comes to an end, Arisu exits her classroom and begins to head toward the club rooms. She is dressed in a brand new uniform, adding to the feeling that this was a new version of Arisu. She half smiles as she moves toward her destination, stopping in her tracks when her path is blocked by two other girls.

"So you're back, Aizawa...You get tired of people feeling sorry for you?" A-ko says, snickering as she moves to knock Arisu's things out of her hands. B-Ko, the other bully, is just grinning as she continues to block the way forward.

Arisu moves her stuff out of the way of her bully swipes. She doesn't seem to be as upset as she was before. She almost seems amused by all of this.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
As it happens, Ghost stories are sort of in the remit of SEES, after a fashion. Ririka had been concerned when Arisu seemingly went missing. She'd checked Tartarus with Fuuka, of course, just in case, with no luck...

But she'd definitely heard about Arisu coming back to school today. It's a relief, though it doesn't explain where she was.

She must be going through a hard time, Ririka thinks. Would she have a lot of people fussing over her? Should Ririka add on to the pile? Maybe it'd be better to give her some space...?

... No, she should at least say hi. Show Arisu a friendly face.

Ririka leaves her own classroom at the end of the day, and makes for the club rooms, hoping to find Arisu along the way. She does spot Arisu, but then also spots a too-familiar pair of girls. Ririka starts to step forward, but then stops mid-stride, blinking.

The sound of a sewing machine, weaving through the background noise of the bustling hallways. And it's coming from...

Ririka stares at Arisu in confusion, forgetting to act for a moment as sh puzzles out the new Resonance.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>"You're in my way" Arisu says flatly as she stares at her two bullys. She doesn't seem as afraid of them. She is actually smiling, almost smugly at the two girls.

"Oh? We're in your way?" A-ko almost laughs before she shoves Arisu into a wall, glaring at her. "Listen here, Bitch. I don't know what you thought you were doing running away but you got us in trouble with your little stunt." A-Ko yanks on Arisu's hair, meeting eyes with the girl. B-Ko spots Ririka and frowns. "Hey that girl with the picture is back."

"I don't care. This bitch got us dealing with the police so she can stick her picture up her as---"

Arisu suddenly seizes her bully by her collar, leaning forward as she brandishes a sewing needle next to A-Ko's eye. Arisu uses her body and her reputation as an honor student to her advantage here. Who would believe this troublemaker on what was about to happen.

"So here's whats going to happen. We're going to go our separate ways. Smoke. Date Adults for all I care...Because if you don't I'm going to give you a scar. Nothing drastic because I'm not a monster. But you'll know who gave it to you. Every time you look in the mirror."

A-ko's eye widens, seeing the needle just centimeters from fulfilling Arisu's threat. "Y,you think you're some kinda badass? Maybe I go get a teacher!"

"And tell them the girl you've been messing with...the quiet one who follows all the rules...is threatening you?" Arisu smiles and shakes her head. "Now who is the tattle tale?" She keeps the needle steady, smiling darkly at her bully. "Go tell and I'll make sure they know you're smoking on school grounds."

"O,ok! Fine. Psycho."

Arisu pats A-ko's cheek as she lets her go and shoots a smile to B-ko.

After a few moments, the girls leave, leaving Arisu quickly. She spots Ririka and waves slightly. "Oh. Hey."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
The girl with the picture. Ririka stands up a little straighter as she's spotted, ready to step in, but blinks in surprise as Arisu takes very sudden action.

A needle near the eye. "Wha--" Ririka's eyes fly open in alarm. Okay that's ''way'' too much, right!? But Arisu seems to be handling herself... and they started it??

She watches as A-Ko and B-ko run off, fingers tapping out a melody on her thigh as she hums to herself, trying to sort out what she's seen.

Her attention suddenly focuses on Arisu as she says hi. "Uh, h-hey. I was... gonna step in, but... seems like you have it handled?" She studies Arisu for a moment. "How... are you feeling? I was worried, when I'd heard you went missing."

This doesn't ''feel'' like a Homunculus situation--she remembers Taro's signature clearly. But she knows Arisu's Resonance wasn't nearly this strong hte last time they talked...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu tilts her head, a little confused by the reaction. Maybe she went too far. Maybe. She didn't really have it in her to care anymore. Stuff like this felt so minor when there were things out there like she had seen. "Thank you for your concern" She smiles at Ririka's offer, nodding as she leans against the wall.

"I'm fine...Yeah I'm sorry to have worried everyone but I had...something come up." She doesn't elaborate because how do you tell someone you were in a parallel dimension with demons and not deal with questions. All things considered, Arisu seems very calm and upbeat...something she wasn't last time.

"Thank you for last time though." She bows her head, unsure of what else to really tell this girl. It wasn't like she would understand this like Coin or Kanae....actually those two understood things more than she did so expecting that of Ririka was a tall ask.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Maybe a little too far. At least Arisu didn't actually, you know, ''follow through''. So there's that? Ririka nods a little. "You're welcome." She offers a tentative smile back.

"Yeah, I... bet you've been through a lot, huh?" If her hunch was right, that was... a definite understatement. "I'm just... glad you're okay."

Last time. "Oh, of course. I'm glad I was able to help." Ririka keeps tapping at her thigh for a moment and then takes a step closer. "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you. Do you have a moment? Maybe we can find somewhere quieter..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Would she have followed through? That is the question that Arisu is only sort of certain of. Not because of social norms, mind you. It was more the pain in the ass such an action would cause. Arisu's reputation could only carry so much.

"Yeah...it was a lot." Arisu says flatly, still smiling at the other girl. She watches the other girl with amusement. If she only knew the hell that Arisu had been through.

"Hmm? Sure. I don't think Bebe will be in the club room today so it will just be us." Arisu gestures for Ririka to follow her down the stairs and to the Fashion Club room. After a leisurely stroll, Arisu opens the door for Ririka before moving to her mannequin, which has a costume currently pinned to it. As the girl begins to work, she looks up at Ririka. "So what can I help you with?" She moves around the costume, pinning pieces of fabric into place as she occasionally looks up.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka would be oh so worried if she knew ''that'' was the reason holding Arisu back from following through on her threat. (She's already somewhat concerned.)

She might understand more than you think, Arisu.

"If that works for you, then, sure..." She'll follow along, and take a look around the Fashion Club room to make sure they're actually alone.

Arisu offers to help ''her'' and Ririka lets out a small, nervous laugh. "A-actually, I was going to ask ''you'' that. Aizawa-san, does the word 'Persona' mean anything to you?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu pauses when she hears the word, looking up at Ririka. It takes her a moment but she repeats the word as she sets a pin into the costume.

That word....Arisu knew it from a few places. First there were Coin and Fuyuki, who seemed to know a lot about the world she had found herself into. Next was the mysterious voice that said the word just before Arisu summoned Van Helsing for the first time.

So when Ririka mentions it, Arisu stops finally and considers the other girl.

It takes her a moment but a cool smile creeps onto Arisu's face as she meets eyes with the other girl. "Oh ho....I guess you know about it too. Well that makes things easy." Arisu says as she sets her pin cushion down and further considers the question.

"I don't really know much but I met a couple of people after I got out of the...place I was. I don't have the words memorized yet but Persona...yeah that's what they called that power I manifested. Hmmm, so I guess that means I can talk freely about this, yes?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka can be patient, waiting as Arisu considers the word. (Okay, not exactly patient. She's still drumming on her thigh some. But that's fine for a musician, right?

"Yeeep. I do," Ririka confirms. "I... well, I can sense something is different about you, so... I'm guessing you didn't exactly run away from home."

A couple of people... "Oh yeah? Who? If you don't mind me asking." But the place... Ririka frowns. "What was it like? Was it a tall tower, or... a weird subway system?" She's thinking of Tartarus and Mementos. It ''could'' be an Atelier, but she doesn't know of an open one at the moment.

"You can talk about it with me, though, I'd be careful not to talk about it with other people who aren't Awakened--that is, someone who's able to summon a Persona."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>"I never left school." Arisu adds, sitting down across from Ririka. "I just sort of ended up there...at this place."

"They called themselves Fuyuki and Coin and they filled me in on some of it. Granted, it was a lot to take in so I'm still not very clear on a lot of it." Arisu taps the side of her head, noting the tapping by Ririka finally.

She considers the next question. "No. It wasn't like that at all....It was a convention. A very dark, messed up one filled with these creatures who held me captive." She tilts her head as she stares at Ririka. "They made me sew and handle costumes....usually I'd be in my element but they worked me to the bone."

"Hmmm...So don't tell the normies about the hell convention that I got teleported to....actually not far from where you're sitting." Arisu smiles at the thought. "No I think I'll just keep it to myself unless someone comes up to me like you did. I'm guessing you have a way to detect the power?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
'I never left school.' "Wha--" Ririka straightens up, looking alarmed. "W-wait, really?" Ririka frowns, muttering to herself. "... but we checked Tartarus..." Out loud she says, "Can you describe it?"

Ririka's just keeping time to a melody, it's fine. But Arisu hasn't retained a lot, it seems. "That's... understandable. Supernatural experiences can be pretty overwhelming..." Fuyuki and Coin, though...

"A messed-up convention..." That's... puzzling. ''Definitely'' not Tartarus, then. A palace, maybe? No, but they couldn't have missed a palace at ''Gekkoukan''...

"... that sounds terrible. I'm sorry they put you through that."

"Pretty much," Ririka confirms. "Normal people normally forget about the supernatural when they've been exposed to it anyway, so... it's better not to tell them about it, i case that stops being true."

Not far from-- Ririka jumps a little, whirling around and looking as she reaches out with what little of her senses she can access right now. "Is--is it still here? Could someone else get drawn inside like you were...?"

"... Yeah. It might be a bit much to get into right now, but... my abilities help me sense supernatural things. But I'm not sensing..."

Maybe she needs to summon Amphion? But she can't do that until the Dark Hour, and by then the school doesn't... exist.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu doesn't react when Ririka seems confused by what she's saying. She takes in a sharp breath as she considers what she is learning. While Kawase seems to know some of what Arisu went through, she doesn't know everything. "Tartarus?" Arisu repeats, not recognizing the word in the slightest.

"Hmmm it was like a night club but it was definitely a cosplay convention... a weird one but..."

Arisu shrugs at the sympathy, smiling darkly at her friend. "I dunno...while the experience was terrible, it was...eye opening."

"So people forget about this...I'm guessing if they "awaken" then it is different?"

Arisu doesn't react when Ririka jumps. She just continues to watch the other girl. "I don't know....my friend who was with me. I checked on her when I got back and she didn't fall into there so I have no idea."

Arisu recalls Coin asking if her friend was acting weird. Today, Arisu confirmed that she was....way too chipper. Almost manic.

When Ririka mentions not sensing anything, Arisu sighs and taps her fingers on a table. "I guess Fuyuki and Coin might be the experts here....Hunters."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka blinks and looks a bit embarrassed at letting the word slip. "Uh... let... me... circle back to that. I don't want to ovewhelm you with too much at once. Did Fuyuki and Coin warn you about something called the Dark Hour?"

"Night club and cosplay convention... okay, that's definitely not any place I'm familiar with."

Ririka might miss social cues sometimes. But she's not sure what to make of that smile. She's pretty confident that's not a normal thing to not understand.

... she ''hopes'' it's not a normal thing to not understand.

"I'll. bet," she says of eye opening, a little uncertain.

"Your friend didn't fall in... that's good." Maybe whatever it is only wants certain people, or... certain kinds of people? She has nowhere near enough information to make a conjecture.

Ririka frowns thoughtfully. "Hunters... hmm. Do you have a way to contact them? I actually know a number of other Persona Users at this school, if there's something happening at Gekkoukan, I'm sure the others would like to help."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu smiles at Ririka slipping up. It was kinda cute that she was slipping up this much. She nods when the Dark Hour is mentioned. "Yeah. They mentioned it was dangerous to be without a Persona during the Dark Hour."

There is something dark about Arisu. It didn't seem particularly dangerous but it was definitely a feeling she was generating in people. Honestly, Arisu couldn't really care less about freaking out people with her new outlook. That said, she was trying not to put off Ririka since she had helped Arisu before.

She nods in agreement when her friend is mentioned. "Yes. Though I'm told that this might have something to do with her. I won't know until I meet them again."

"I do. Fuyuki-san gave me her number to discuss things when I was feeling better. I can see if they don't mind if you tag along. I was told there would be others coming too."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's puzzled and trying to figure out a new thing!

... Also she's talking with a girl who ''just'' threatened to stick a needle in another girl's eye.

"Yeah, they're right about that. Just... don't be at the school in the Dark Hour either." Though the school is usually pretty good about getting things locked up after hours, at least.

"Something to do with her... can I ask your friend's name, then?" Might be worth keeping an eye out.

Ririka nods. "That's good... and it's good to get some rest, too. Can I swap phone numbers with you so you can keep in touch? And I'll let my friends know about what's going on, so they can help."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu considers what she's being told. Something happens at school during the Dark Hour. The girl can't help but feel tempted to check that out. That was a later thing though. Right now, they needed to figure out what was up with Ai-chan...Doing that would get Arisu to the excitement she now craved.

"Ai Sakurai...2nd Year like me." Arisu responds, tapping her fingers on the table as she thinks about everything. While she seemed nonchalant about all of this, her expression was somewhat concerned when talking about Ai. It was clear that despite the front she put up, Arisu was concerned about her friend.

"Sure." Arisu takes out her phone and offers it to Ririka. "Not every day some girl gives me her phone number." Arisu jokes, laughing to herself.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's a good thing Ririka can't read thoughts. (The Navigator link doesn't count.)

"Ai Sakurai... alright. Thanks." Ririka nods. She considers for a moment... "If she's involved in this somehow, we'll do everything we can to make sure she's okay."

Ririka puts her phone number in for Arisu, texts herself, and hands the phone back. Her own phone chimes a moment later, and sh pulls it out to add Arisu as a contact. She laughs a little at Arisu's comment. "... yeah? I guess today's your lucky day, then."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-11-04: Don't Mind the Demons

2026-11-05T03:29:51Z

Talnora: No, seriously, don't worry about them.

*'''Log: Don't Mind the Demons'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Lisa Silverman]]
*'''Where:''' Giga Macho, Yumezaki Center
*'''OOC Date:''' November 04, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, February 04, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''It's been a moment since Ririka and Lisa hung out, so... they do! They meet up at the Giga Macho to go CD shopping. They chat hair, music, bands, forming alliances, sisters, and missions. There might be demons, but it's fine.''

----

(|============================= Yumezaki Center ==============================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Yumezaki Ward ====-
Yumezaki Center is unmistakable: countless bright billboards invite and welcome
in people of all walks to walk down its indoor and outdoor shops. One of those
doors leads to the Velvet Room--but that's only for those who can see it.

One of the more casual stores is Tony's Shop, which is really just several
tables on the sidewalk set up with various rings, necklaces, bracelets, and
other accessories. Tony, the stoned-looking blond foreigner who runs it, is
supposedly a smuggler for the Sicilian mafia, if you can believe it--but he does
have some rare goods for sale at times.

One can chow down at Peace Diner, which offers a variety of burgers, fries and
shakes; the part-timer who works the register is infamous for being a big fan of
period dramas and so talking like a ninja. Sevens rumormonger Chika "Chikarin"
Ueda, a first-year, likes to hang out here too to swap info for her school
newspaper.

A burnished bro in a Hawaiian shirt runs Bikini Line, a tan salon with a
tropical aesthetic, including palm trees, tiki totem poles, and an abundance of
hibiscus flowers. Though it might seem a little shady--literally--the tanning
booths here work wonders, leaving clients feeling healed in mind and body.

And, of course, it's not Sumaru City without a local Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy
branch. This one looks the same as all the others: aisles and walls laden with
medicine of all kinds, overseen from the back counter where magazines are
available by one of seven identical sisters. Satomi Sister #7 runs this one; a
techno remix of the store's theme plays here. "The eternal ally of those who
fight: our city's friendly! drug! store!! o/`"

AS: Arisu Aizawa has readied for combat as Van Helsing! She is now fully healed!
You say, "Nice."
You say, "Also congrats on PErsona."

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's been a bit since Ririka's gotten to talk or hang out with Lisa. The last hangout they had was... let's say, interrupted.

... things worked out, more or less.

But Ririka recently remembered she hasn't really had a hang with Lisa in a while, so... she reached out! (There are things Ririka needs to be doing, like preparing for the Full Moon Shadow tomorrow, but she was going to be in the area ''anyway'', so...)

And now... they're here! At the Giga Macho! Because Music is always worth getting, even if there might also be demons.

It's fine.

Ririka is here with her ''new haircut'', her dark hair is cut short, right side framing her face, left side tucked behind her ear, and she's wearing a dark purple ear cuff on her left ear. She's dressed in a dusty purple hoodie, a dark red skirt, black leggings, and sneakers.

"Alright, so... are you looking for anything in particular, Lisa-san?" Ririka asks as the two step inside.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Lisa Silverman has posed.
<poem>
Lisa hasn't gotten to talk to Ririka in a while, either! There was the matter of messaging her about the music--but they've both had a lot to do...

They're here though! Lisa was happy to be called out, and so:

"Your hair looks great!" Lisa enthuses now that they're together, and they haven't seen any demons ''yet'' but--

Oh, wait. There's one down the way. "Hee-ho-ho, Hee-ho..." Jack Frost is going through CDs.

Lisa's in a fur-lined coat and pants. "Not really," Lisa says. "I just thought I'd broaded my horizons a little, right?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks!" Ririka is beaming about the compliment to her hair. "I got it cut short... wow. a week ago. Feels like longer. I like your coat!"

She pauses, her eyes following her senses as she notices-- a demon. "... huh." Well as long as it's only just browsing CDs, it's... probably fine?

"Oh, definitely!" she agrees about the music. "Gotta see what's new, what you've missed... speaking of music, how are things with MUSES?" Beat. "And... how are things with you? I haven't seen you since winter finals..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Lisa Silverman has posed.
<poem>
Jack Frost throws up the horns as he lifts an American 'Steelica' CD. Don't worry about it.

"Thanks!" Lisa says, and smiles. "It's nice what you can do with hair, right? I thought about getting mine changed... but they'd just comment on it more."

Demon. "Oh, don't worry about it," Lisa suggests.

"Great! We're releasing a new album soon--aiyaaah, it's some pressure... But I think it'll go great!"

"I'm good. Just normal stuff for me. Ami-chan, my little sister, has a class trip somewhere upcoming..."

"Right! I've been super busy, and I bet so have you. Speaking of..."

She looks left, looks right.

"SEES stuff, right?" she asks. "I'm working on gathering up some people to work on stuff here in Sumaru, too..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka blinks, and then she grins a little and throws up the horns back.

"Welcome!" Ririka laughs a little. "Yeah, and I haven't really changed it in... forever, so..." She considers Lisa for a moment. "Yeah? What would you change it to?"

"But yeah, if everyone's just gonna comment online... kind of tricky, huh?"

"Oh, I won't, it's just... hard for me not to notice, that's all."

"Awww, good luck! I bet it's gonna be great! I'll be first in line to buy it." Ririka smiles. "But... I get it, though. I've been working on a new setlist and some other songs, too... new material is tough..."

"Oh, cool. Going new places is fun, even if there's a lot to keep track of..."

"Yeah... lots going on..." Ririka blinks a little, taking her own look around when Lisa mentions SEES. "Oh, yeah. So you've heard of it?" But gathering people... "Oh, cool. Well, if you ever need a Navigator, give me a call. I care about what happens in Sumaru, too... My sister lives out here, and I have some other friends here, too..."

Specifically she has a ''girlfriend'', but she'll keep that one close to her chest for the moment.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Lisa Silverman has posed.
<poem>
"It looks good," Lisa says again. "But... Nah, I wouldn't. It's kind of a badge of... something, now. And it's part of my 'image'. But back a while ago, I thought about dyeing it balck to fit in better. In the end, though... it wouldn't matter. I'll get by on who I am, not who I'm not."

Online!! Jack Frost says, "Hee-ho!" and goes off to the next asile.

"That's OK," Lisa says, and then smiles. "Thanks. If you guys get more music out, I'll go for it too!" New material.... "Meepo is writing a lot of the lyrics now," she says. "She's getting really good at it!"

And--SEES! "I have! I know a couple of your friends in it. ...But really?? Thanks! I'll give you an invite to the meeting I'm setting up. We're mostly focusing on people here in Sumaru, since..." She gestures expansively. "Iwatodai's a while away, we can't ask you to come fix stuff for us."

Sister, and friends... And a girlfriend! Wait, Lisa doesn't know that one yet.

"It's important to look after your sister, right?" Lisa says. "Cool."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks." She listens, and lets out a little 'ahhh' when Lisa mentions dying her hair. "Ohhh, yeah... that makes sense... But if you've made it part of your image, that's cool, right? I was thinking of dying mine a crazy color, but since I go to Gekkoukan..."

She can push her look in certain ways, but she still has to obey the dress code.

Ririka grins. "Rad! I'm not sure when our next show is, and that'd be when we were likely to try and sell some CDs, but... I'll let you know when we figure something out. And I have a demo I recorded if you wanna hear." Lyrics! "Oooh, cool. Can't wait to hear them then. Mori-chan usually helps me a lot with the lyrics, but I'm trying to do more of my own, at least for certain songs."

"Sure! I don't mind--I've come to Sumaru to help with stuff before, and SEES has come out this way, too. For missions." Though the last SEES mission in Sumaru... well...

"Cool! I'd love to show up. Can I ask who else is in the group?" Mostly Sumaru people, since... "Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Still, I don't mind coming out, and SEES has also taken an interest in some of the goings on out here, like that first Joka curse..."

"Yeah. She's graduating this year, and... she got accepted into PIC, so it looks like she's going to be out here for a while, so... still plenty of reasons to come out this way, right?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Lisa Silverman has posed.
<poem>
"Hmm. I guess so! At least mine's natural." A laugh; a lot of blonde delinquents have theirs dyed, of course. But, "Ohhh, yeah. Your school probably wouldn't like it... Sevens wouldn't be happy about mine if it weren't natural, too."

And then, "Cool, let me know!" She nods then, thinking. "I'll take the demo--but... Ohhh, yeah?"

Missions! "It's crazy that you're so organized," Lisa says, impressed. "We're... probably not going to be that organized. We don't have a leader, exactly, unless you count me and Mishina-san." Pause. She rolls her eyes. "He's such a dork. But he knows his stuff on this. Don't tell him I said so, though."

Who else? "No need, you'll meet them! Well, whoever shows up, anyway."

But... "PIC, over by Narumi and Aoba? That's cool." Pause. "Waaaaait. Kawase... Your sister used to--"

Pause. "Neevermind, that's not a nice story. But I remember her from when i was a first-year..."

"Anyway! We can go check out whenever, too, I think... I got some stuff." She awkwardly works to change the subject.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Natural! "That makes sense..." Ririka says with a nod. And a small laugh. "Yeah, probably not, haha. But it's fine. Maybe after I graduate..."

"Will do! I had to take a break for a while, but... I'm cexcited to see what we can do next. Since we don't really have an agent, exactly, we kind of have to do everything ourselves, and balance it around our school schedule..."

"Cool! I'll send a recording of the demo to your phone later."

There's a self-conscious laugh. Ririka doesn't normally get into specifics. "Eh heh, yeah... it's... kind of a whole thing..." That's what happens when you're funded by a really rich company (but also somehow still have to provide your own gear.)

"Well, you're getting people together, that's a start, right?" Ririka's trying to look at the positive side. "Heehee. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"I guess so."

"Yep! That's the one. I'm really happy for her that she got accepted." But she used to go... Ririka sighs a little. "Yeah. That's my older sister. Ichika-nee."

Not a nice story. "No, but... she's moving forward. I'm happy for her. After everything, she's looking forward to the future, you know?"

"Sure!" Ririka's rifling through the CDs. "Ooh, I haven't grabbed this one yet... or this... Oh I don't know ''that'' band... Oooh! Ikumi-chan would ''love'' this!" She snags one last CD, and that one she glutches to her chest. "Okay, I'm good. Let's check out."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Lisa Silverman has posed.
<poem>
"That's another year! ...I think what you've got looks good right now, though."

"Hmmm, yeah... That's good and bad," Lisa says. "The business side is something I'm glad not to worry about, but we also have to fight a little harder for creative control. Well, a lot."

A whole thing! Hmmm. Yes.

"Oh, yeah. I think we'll do fine."

But, "Cool. I heard the stories and all, but only later. She always seemed... busy."

"But I'm glad she's doing better!"

CDs... Ririka clearly likes music a lot. It's nice. So does Lisa, of course.

"Always nice to pick up something for a friend," Lisa says, and smiles. "Here we go!"

Pyro Jack peeks around the corner. "Hee-ho..."

Lisa doesn't notice.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka reaches up to retuck the left side of her hair behind the ear, giving Lisa a smile. "... thanks. I'm glad you like it."

"Yeah... I can see that. I guess if you're an idol group, too, they want you to have a certain kind of image, huh...?" She nods. "Creative control is good to have..."

She considers. "I've kind of been deciding between two things ofr a while, but... I think I'm gonna pursue something with Polychord. Dunno who's going to sign a rock band with a frontwoman, though."

"Yeah, I think the important thing is, you have people who want to watch out for each other."

"Yeah... I'm really happy for her, too."

Ririka definitely likes music.

Right. Friend. "Mmmhmm. Totally. Let's go."

She'll give a tiny wave to the Pyro Jack as she passes.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-11-04: Giving Credit

2026-11-05T00:56:30Z

Talnora: There's really no one who knows her like Wakana does...

*'''Cutscene: Giving Credit'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Wakana Oosaka]]
*'''Where:''' Kazusa's Studio, Akihabara, Tokyo
*'''OOC Date:''' November 04, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Sunday, February 03, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa is alone in her apartment, again, working on some homework. Then, who should come along but her currently-estranged friend Wakana. They haven't really spoken in four months, but Wakana apparently has a reason to reach out. But what is it?''

----

<poem>
Cold cup ramen filled the subdued studio apartment, accompanied by low J-pop music. Outside the windows Akiba was submerged in inky darkness, though further out the bright lights of the main strip still shone like a beacon to the night sky. Kazusa sat at the wooden table by her kitchenette, textbooks spread out around her as she studied. Every so often she would pick up her phone, tap out the PIN, and check for new views or comments on the latest ''Let's Eat'' video that had gone live earlier that day. Another tick of the counter made her smile briefly. It had been a lot of work, but… it had been worth it.

A knock at the door wiped the smile from her face. A flash of heat erupted in her chest as she turned to stare at the door, frowning. She hadn't made plans for anybody to visit—if this was Isabeau or Kasumi making a surprise visit… Kazusa scowled as she slipped out of the chair, dressed in a soft pink hoodie, purple joggers, and pink house slippers, already feeling the vein starting to throb in her forehead. "I swear, whoever it is is getting a piece of my mind," she muttered as she crossed the small studio apartment.

But the sight on the other side of the peephole made her gasp, and all her nascent anger evaporated. Kazusa hastened to open the door, freezing as the visitor came into view.

It was Wakana. Her oldest… well, they hadn't quite been friends recently, had they? In fact, Kazusa had been doing her best to give the other girl space—a feat made infinitely more awkward by how they shared both a class and a club together. But here she was, short brown bob, and those large, vulnerable eyes that Kazusa just wanted to—

She wrenched her gaze downwards, staring at the floor instead as she tried to ignore some very traitorous thoughts. "Uh… hey, Wakana-san. I wasn't… why are you… " She risked a peek up. "… is… everything okay…?"

Wakana was more composed, though there was still a current of uncertainty evident in the way her clasped hands tightened. "Everything's fine, I just… wanted to talk."

''Was'' everything fine? Kazusa replayed the recent weeks in her head. Had she said anything to Wakana in class? During Rhythmic Gymnastics practice? A sideways look? An off-handed remark? She'd tried to be so careful, but she also kept slipping. "Oh, okay, uh… would you like to come in?" Kazusa took a step back, opening the door wider.

"Thanks." Wakana offered a small smile as she stepped in, and Kazusa closed the door behind her. The studio apartment had a small unfinished concrete section that served as the genkan, and Wakana paused as she looked at the house slippers lined up by the door. "… you kept my slippers," she noted softly as she slipped her shoes off and slipped into a pair of yellow slippers with sunflower designs on them. "And…" Her eyes swept over to a blue pair and a number of beige pairs. "… you've added some more."

"Oh, yeah, uh…" Kazusa rubbed the back of her neck. "The blue ones are Kazuhiro-kun's, the rest are…" She looked away. "… you know. When people come over sometimes. It's a little annoying taking care of them, but… less annoying than cleaning the floor more, so…"

Wakana studied Kazusa for a long moment and then smiled. "… so you're opening up some more, then."

Kazusa shrugged a little. "… yeah, I guess. Just a few people, you know? Do you…" She glanced over towards the table, that still had her textbooks spread out over it. "… do you want to sit? Something to drink? I have canned coffee, or…"

Wakana slipped off her peacoat and hung it up in the closet, revealing a long blue dress and black tights. "I'll make some tea. Would you like some?"

"Oh, you don't—" Kazusa looked at her friend and then glanced towards the kitchenette. "You're my guest, I should probably…"

"It's okay," interrupted Wakana gently. "I know you don't really like making tea for others, right? I don't mind."

"… Right. Okay." Crossing the room, Kazusa called back, "I still have my canned coffee, but everything's more or less in the same place." She began to tidy up the table, making sure to mark where she was.

Meanwhile, Wakana wandered over to the desk that made the heart of Kazusa's studio, observing the art pinned up to the wall. She hummed quietly as she looked over the bookshelves, and then back to the desk. "Oh, that's a cute owl," she remarked. Where once there had been only a stuffed rabbit placed between the two monitors on Kazusa's desk, it had been joined by a stuffed owl.

"Oh, yeah, that was a gift. From…" Kazusa hesitated for a moment, regarding the owl from across the room. "… a friend, I guess."

Wakana turned to regard Kazusa curiously. "You guess?"

"It's…" The other girl shrugged uncomfortably. "… complicated." She hadn't exactly been the best to Roger in the past, but… she still relied on him, too, when things got dangerous.

"I see…" Wakana continued her tour of the studio. Three corners were taken up by the genkan, the loft and desk underneath it, and the kitchenette. The last corner had remained empty, but now there was a folding table. She hummed softly as she looked over the contents: tools for ikebana and calligraphy. "You're letting your brother use your studio…?" she wondered aloud.

Kazusa had just finished discarding her cold ramen cup. "… yeah. He, uh… helped me save the studio, so… you know, I figured…" She rubbed her arm. "… yeah."

"That's good that you're both looking out for each other," Wakana remarked as she turned to head for the kitchenette. Kazusa leaned against the wooden table while she waited for Wakana to make tea with the electric kettle, and only took her seat again when Wakana moved to sit down with her mug.

Kazusa cupped the mostly-empty can of coffee in her hands, staring down at the table. She wanted to ask Wakana why she was here, but she was too afraid to pop the delicate bubble of tranquility suspended oh-so-briefly in the air between them.

Wakana regarded Kazusa as she sipped her tea, before setting the mug down. There was a brief, playful smile, though Kazusa missed it, staring at the table as she was. "So," Wakana began. "… you know Sakamoto-san from our class, right?"

Sakamoto-san!? Kazusa straightened up, body tensing as she tried to keep her expression calm and disaffected. It wasn't working. "Uh, s-sure? Hard to miss the guy when he refuses to dye his hair back. What… what about him?"

Taking another sip, Wakana hid her smile behind her mug before she spoke again. "Did you know he has a food vlog? And it seems like he just got a new editor…" She unlocked her phone and placed it on the table. It was paused in the middle of a video.

Kazusa stared at the phone, a cold, clammy weight sinking in her chest. 'NightPrincess', listed over and over again, in Kazusa's attempt to accurately categorize her contribution to the video. (It was probably too accurate, the video ending should be snappier, but that was a problem to sort out later.) "I…" She let her gaze drop to her lap. "… so you saw. Look, I can explain, it's just… just so I can get some practice editing videos for my portfolio, that's all."

Wakana kept watching Kazusa steadily, though her expression stayed warm, a light smile playing on her face. "Mmhmm. And that's why you put your name on it?"

A light huff escaped Kazusa's throat before she could stop it, as she glanced out a side window. "W-well, you know… if I'm going to start building an online presence…"

"Kazusa-san, relax," said Wakana gently as she set her mug down. "I think it's a good thing. You're getting your art out there. You've let more people into your studio. You…" Her smile faltered for a moment. "… it seems like you went through a lot, trying to help Nagisa-san, and he seems like he's back to his old self now."

"… yeah. That was…" Kazusa gave a small shrug. "… kind of a lot." She let her fingers tap on the cold coffee can for a moment before looking up. "… how have you been? Are… you taking care of yourself…?" She studied Wakana for a moment, eyes tracing over her dress. … did you make that dress? It looks good on you."

Wakana smiled, sitting up a little more and holding an arm out to show off more of the dress. "I did! And thank you. I'm really pleased with how it came out." She lowered her arm again to hold her mug once more. "And as for me…" Her voice quieted for a moment. "… I've been okay. I joined some cosplay forums, I've met some new people. School is… school."

Neither of them needed to elaborate about Shujin.

"That's… good. I'm glad." Kazusa tried to smile, but it was an unsteady, uncertain thing. She lapsed into silence, rolling her can on its base. "So…" She wanted to ask why Wakana was here, but she was too afraid to pop the fragile bubble.

"… you're probably wondering why I'm here."

Kazusa nodded.

Wakana fixed a look on her former friend, studying her for a long moment. "… I'm still not ready for things to go back to how they were. But… it seems like you're making changes in your life and I…" She looked down at her mug, hands tightening around it. "… well. You're doing some of the things I was hoping you'd do, right?"

An unspoken thought hung in the air, and Kazusa sat up straighter, her own hands tightening and dimpling the can. "You don't… you don't have to do this, Wakana-san. You don't… you don't owe me anything, okay? I ''am'' trying to change, but… it's… because I don't like the person I turned out to be. I…" Her throat tightened for a moment. "… I miss you, but I know I hurt you, so I'm not… doing any of this to try and win you back."

The silence stretched out between them, until Wakana slowly nodded and looked up. "… okay. Thanks for saying that. I guess a part of me did feel like I owed you, but the truth is… I've missed you, too. I don't want things to go back to how they were, but… maybe we could start small? Like talking at school?"

"I mean…" Kazusa forced her hands to let go of the can, which crinkled a little as the pressure was released. "My reputation at school isn't exactly… you know. I don't want to drag you down with me."

Wakana pursed her lips for a moment, humming in thought. "You've got a point," she conceded. "Then… how about we do something small outside of school? There's a new cafe we could try out. Maybe this weekend?"

"Oh, um…" Kazusa winced a little. "I would, honest, but I already have plans this weekend. I, um… arranged a trip to Yugawara for some people I know. Since it's a holiday on Monday, and all…"

The other girl stared in mock disbelief. "You arranged… a group trip? Did you suddenly come up with a bunch of friends while I wasn't looking?" There was a playful lilt to Wakana's voice, but the surprise still dominated her tone.

"Oh, no, they're not all…" Kazusa shrugged awkwardly. "… A few of them are my friends, some of them are like.. friends of friends? I just thought… well… I'd try to do something nice? Uh… you'd have been invited, but we weren't… I think I have some space available?"

Wakana shook her head. "No, that's… that's okay. I don't think I'm ready for a whole weekend. But…" She managed a small smile. "… thank you. Maybe… we can find some time before or after your trip?"

That smile made Kazusa's chest tighten in a way she hadn't been prepared for. "Sure—if you're okay with that, that is. I—" She looked away again, studying the blacked-out skyline out her window. "I'm trying, but I still slip up. I'm… kind of a mess," she confessed with a disbelieving laugh. "So if I—if I get to be too much, if…" She looked to Wakana, her expression somber. "… if you want to step away again, that's okay. I won't blame you."

The offer hung in the air between them, and Wakana took a long moment to study the other girl. After a long moment to consider, she nodded. "… you really are trying to change, huh? Okay. Then… I'd like to try."

Kazusa nodded slowly, her throat suddenly dry. "Okay. Um… if you want to, then I'd like to, too. Um… want some plums from Yugawara? They're supposed to be in bloom…"

Wakana tapped her chin for a moment as she considered the offer. "Mmm… sure. As long as you're not going out of your way."

"I'm not, I…" Kazusa picked up her phone and quickly unlocked it, adding Wakana's name to a list. "I'm already bringing some back for other people, so I'll just… get a little more, that's all."

"Good! Then… I should go." Wakana stood up, and Kazusa hastened to follow suit.

"I'll get your mug," said Kazusa, reaching for it and carrying it to the sink. "It was… nice to see you." She quickly joined Wakana at the door to see her off. "You've got my number, right? We'll… plan something."

"I do," confirmed Wakana as she retrieved her jacket and slipped her shoes back on. "Have a good night, Kazusa-san."

"Good night, Wakana-san." Kazusa saw the other girl out the door and then closed it, slumping against it as she looked to the ceiling. She replayed the conversation in her head several times before she forced herself to stand up and head back to her homework.
</poem>

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-11-03: A Stop at the Mall

2026-11-04T05:17:42Z

Talnora: Keep moving forward...

*'''Log: A Stop At The Mall'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Paulownia Mall
*'''OOC Date:''' November 03, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Sunday, February 03, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Ichika picks up Ririka and the two head to Pauloownia Mall to chat and hang out for a few before going home. They talk about breakups, family, dorms, and dogs!''

----

(|============================== Paulownia Mall ==============================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
A great glass dome surrounds Paulownia Mall, its name displayed in great letters
on its rim. Within this circular structure, made beautiful with water features,
the mall bustles. A central fountain pours out, eternally, surrounded by benches
for weary shoppers; two more pools stand by the entrance, decorated by
well-trimmed hedges behind them. The brown patterning on the floor emphasises
the circular nature of this place, all carved to equal segments; pillars
surrounding the sides provide structure and guidance, separating each store from
the other.

And the shops one can find here are many. Game Parade is a popular arcade,
particularly amongst nearby Gekkoukan students, and its crane game has foiled
many a hopeful date. Kenneth Arnold offers music albums, while Mandragora
Karaoke Bar, up a flight of stairs nearby, offers live music experiences for
those who prefer active participation. Club Escapade is another great option for
music-lovers, alongside those seeking Fortune-Telling services or looking for
shady informants -- but it's only open at night, and technically, it's only for
people who are over 18. Practically speaking, teenagers sometimes sneak in,
anyway... but curious teens ought to be careful, because a few shops over, one
can find the Tatsumi East Police Station. Chagall Cafe, at least, is both open
during the day and open to all ages! Aohige Pharmacy offers pharmaceuticals to
cure any ailment, while Be Blue V offers an eclectic variety of items and
treatments to improve one's health and wellbeing. Finally, Mayoido Antiques
offers unique weapons and armour for those who bring in supernatural
materials... and the proprietor seems to know more than she really ought to
about that world.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's good to make time to spend with siblings... especially with a lot of major changse of all kinds just up ahead... Or currently in the works, in the case of one girl's fashion experimentation.

When Ichika picked Ririka up from the dorm, not only did Ririka have her shorter hair styled to have the right side frame her face and the left side tucked behind her ear, she's got a dark purple ear cuff on the left ear, too.

And she's trying a new outfit, too: black leggings, a dark purple skirt, a dusty purple hoodie, and sneakers.

The ride was, presumably, pleasant, but only a short while later they arrived at... Paulownia!

"So," Ririka asks as they walk in together. "What do you feel like doing first? We could go shopping, grab a bite to eat, check out the arcade..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's good! Ichika, earlier today, had time to talk to Ren and visit the festivities in Tokyo about Setsubun. Now, she's come to spend time with her little sister (not that little) and her parents before heading back to the dorm for school tomorrow.

...Well, mostly with her mother; her dad's working again tonight.

"You look good," Ichika said at the time. "Nice purples."

Ichika's in a green coat, herself--that obscures most of her outfit but for the low boots she's wearing. And as they walk into the mall area...

The arcade gives Ichika a distant look. She thinks of Ryuji, and shakes her head. "Nah," Ichika says. "No arcades for me just now. Let's eat something. It'll give us a chance to catch up on some things anyway."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks!" Ririka is really happy that Ichka likes the outfit. (Though is more happy that Ikumi does, even if she had to share it via selfie.)

Their father always works a lot, huh? Ririka wonders what's going to happen after...

No arcade. Ririka can't guess the significance off-hand, but she nods. "Uh... sure. No arcade then. Grabbing a bite works for me. You in the mood for anything in particular?"

A short while later they're seated at Chagall, with snacks and coffee. Ririka takes a nibble, and then... "So... it's February. Kind of hard to believe it's almost..." She lets the thought trail off for a moment. "... it's been kind of a crazy year, huh?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Somehow, Ichika will recover from coming in second on ''that'' front.

But he does work a lot; probably, Suika will have to do most of the childcare on her own. ...But that's part of why Ichika will be over a lot, too. And maybe Dr. Kawase can get some more time off for this, this time...

"Coffee's good," Ichika says.

And soon, they have coffee and a little cake! Well, Ichika has a little cake. "...Almost time for Mom to be due?" Ichika wonders. "Or almsot time for me to graduate?"

She smiles. "Both are big. ...It really has, though. So much has happened... And so many 'weird' things, too."

Ichika pauses. "Like..."

"I broke up with Ryuji-kun," she says.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika's opinion is still very important to Ririka though! Just in a different way than Ikumi's.

Ririka is already making plans to also be over a lot... and with having had to free up her schedule some a few months ago, it hopefully won't be as much of a burden on her as it might otherwise have been.

"I mean, both? And I'll be a third year this year, too.." She nods a little to 'weird'. ".. yeah."

They don't talk about the weird stuff a lot, do they?

She sits up straighter. "Oh, dang... how'd he take it? Are... you okay? I know you really liked him..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It'd be the same for Ichika; it's more funny than sad.

"Mm-hm. Then you'll have to deal with entrance exams and stuff. ...It'll be a little easier for you, since you'll have all year to prep instead of just starting in the second semester and hoping it works. But then, you'll probably be going for harder schools..." Ichika 'hmms' about that.

They don't talk about the weird stuff too much, no. There's reasons for that. They both have secrets to keep.

But--

"He didn't take it great," Ichika says with a wince. "...He's pretty upset. Not like, violent or anything--he didn't take it ''badly''. Just... He's not happy."

"I'm kinda down about it," she admits. "But I think I made the right call. So it's just me and Tsubasa for a while."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Well, yeah, I guess..." She doesn't want to brag about her own potential chances. "Though... honestly I'm still kind of considering what I want to do? I have some time to decide... I still want to keep working at Polychord but I think I still want to go to school, too..."

Indeed. But at the very least, ''other'' things have become easier to talk about over the last year.

Ririka winces at the news. "Poor guy... I hope he'll be okay." She takes a sip of her coffee. "So... what made you decide to do it? I knowyou had some concerns..."

But Ichika is also down. "I'm sorry, Sis.... if there's anything I can do to help, let me know?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Mm. I think you should go to school," Ichika opines. "It only opens up your options. But if you can handle your band, too, I think that's great."

Many other things!

"Hopefully," Ichika says. "He's got good friends--and... those friends aren't looking at me like I'm awful, or something."

"Mm, well... Part of it is that when I brought up those concerns, he kinda... freaked a bit. I could tell how hard it was on him."

"Anyway," she says, "I wanted to tell you so you knew. ...I'm probably moving in with Tsubasa, though. Once we graduate. For school, and all."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah... I know I can do more if I do, but... I've been thinking I want to study contemporary music, not classical. I'll always love classical music, of course, but... I want to keep trying new things, too, you know?"

"Well, if I do it right, it'll give me more ideas for things to do with Polychord, right?"

"Well, that's good." She hasn't had to do a messy breakup, but she can see how that'd make it harder.

"Oof... but I guess that makes sense...and with you graduating soon, and starting college..."

Ririka nods. "Thanks, I appreciate it. And if you wanna talk about that more, we can..." But moving in! "Oh, cool. That makes sense."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Contemporary's cool," Ichika says. "Maybe a background in classical is... good? ...Yeah, I dunno, that's not the kind of thing I know about. If you think contemporary's good, I bet you're right. You should study what you want, anyway."

"Totally."

And, "Yeah..." She shakes her head. "That's right," Ichika says. "He doesn't need all that yet. But to be honest... I'd like to do almost anything ''but'' keep talking about him right now."

"I need to clear my head, move forward."

"So! We can move forward." She lifts her coffee and inhales the aroma. "Yeah. We're... really serious, you know?"

"...But I need a minute before I can talk about that. How about you tell me how you're feeling, instead? We're close to the big day--and I know you've been having mixed feelings."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, I'm still... figuring all that out. Trying to get some advice, that kind of thing. I'm not giving up piano, though--I'll still play it in ''some'' form, you know?"

Ririka laughs a little awkwardly. "Oh, right--sorry, then... we can talk about something else!" But as for her and Tsubasa... "Yeah, seems like it. I'm glad you two still have each other, at least."

Let's see, what's not an awkward topic...

The incoming baby Kawae. ... Nope, still feels awkward. But it's what Ichika picked... Ririka sighs. "I mean, I'm still kind of having mixed feelings..." She shrugs a little. "You're about to graduate, I'm going to be a third year, I want to help Mom with the baby but I still have my own things going... I guess... it still makes me think of nii-chan, too..."

She looks down at her coffee for a moment. "I guess I'm also a little woerried I won't know what to do." She looks up again. "Uh... how are you feeling about it?" As awkward as Ririka feels, she can only imagine what her sister thinks, considering...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Right. Well, you can get better advice from people who know more about that," Ichika opines. Than herself, presumably. "But that's cool. You're really good at piano."

Ichika doesn't smile on that one--the topic ''is'' awkward for her--but, "Something else is good. It's fine." Pause. "We do. ...We definitely do."

"What kind of a mix?" Ichika wonders. She doesn't know if Ririka doesn't tell her, after all. "All that's true--but Mom wouldn't want us to worry too hard. Like... I'm going to help, but she wouldn't have gone for it if she didn't think she could do it. That's what I think, anyway. Otherwise we'd have had a new sibling a lot sooner."

"...That's true, though. Nobody can replace him. And nobody will. ...We just have to try to move forward."

"Like what?" Ichika wonders, of 'what to do'. "...We can tell you most of it, you know? Some of it's natural, some of it's just 'do what Mom asks'."

"But me..." Ichika looks down at her coffee, and sets it down. She forks off a bit of cake and brings it to her lips, chewing the delicate treat for a few moments. It's rude in some respects, but in others... she needs a moment to think.

Then, when she finishes swallowing, "I'm happy for her. ...It means she and Daddy are still... you know, getting along, so that's good. But it means more than that. It means she's trying to move forward, too. And... I'm really looking forward to meeting the baby."

"Funnily, it's... helped me remember I can wait, a while, before I start a family too. Even if I admit... I am a little jealous. Mom being pregnant has made me think of my little girl from the beginning..." She sighs, and puts both hands on her warm coffee mug. Pheromone coffee... she doesn't need a lot more charm, probably. But maybe?

"But I think... It's a good thing, overall. We all have our lives to think about. We can't stay in the past. For better or worse, we can only go forward."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Your opinion still matters, though..." Ririka says with a small smile. "And, thanks."

"Just... the same ones I've had, I guess. We're going to be so much older, it still feels like replacing Toshi-nii a little, will we even... I dunno. Have anything in common with them?" She considers for a moment. "... I guess there's some new ones, now that we're so close. Just... worried I won't know how to be a good older sister..."

She nods a little. "I guess that's true... I want to help, too, of course, when I can..."

Moving forward. "... yeah. I... I have a lot to look forward to, but I still think about him a lot." She looks off into the rest of the mall. "... I wonder what he'd think of Ikumi-chan..."

"I mean, I dunno. Changing a diaper? Or even just... holding a baby?" She nods a little as Ichika says that they can explain. "Well, as long as I can lern it, I guess that's okay..."

Ichika needs a moment, and Ririka will let her have it. She breaks off a piece of a cookie to nibble at it, watching the mall for a few moments so Ichika can gather her thoughts.

Getting along. "Yeah... that's true." Moving forward... "That's true... I guess things have been hard for them, too, huh..." She ponders for a moment. "... and I guess we're at the point where, in a few years, we could be moving out and starting our own lives..."

A reminder. Ririka looks at IChika curiously. "Yeah?" But she draws in a breath at the mention of being jealous. "... yeah... Someday when you're ready I still think you're gonna be a great mom."

Ririka nods a little. "... we have to keep moving forward," she echos. Even when it feels hard.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"I'm glad you value what I have to say," Ichika settles on, "But I know when other people know more. ...Thanks, though. I'll help however I can, you know?"

So much older... That's true. "Mm. I can see where you'd feel that way..." About 'replacing'. "Maybe we will, maybe we won't. But if nothing else, we'll be their sisters. ...We can look after them, help them learn how to grow up." She smiles. "But you'll do great. Just..."

"Think of what Nii-san would do, and if you can get close, I think you'll do OK."

A lot to think ahead. "I think he'd like her," Ichika says, "Because she's making you happy. ...But we can't know. We just have to hope that he can see, somehow... and make him proud."

"Oh, yeah. You can learn that stuff. I'll have to learn that stuff, too. So it'll be nice to get in some practice!"

"It has," Ichika says. "We lost a brother--but they lost a son. ...Did you notice? Daddy tried to get into our lives more, after that. He realized what he was missing, as a father. And Mom's been holding us that much closer..."

"Mm-hm. We could. I'm already getting there."

A pause. "Someday," Ichika says. "...Maybe like, four or five years," she laughs. "Not yet. I'm not ready right now. I know that, now."

But forward. "Mm-hm."

"Speaking of forward..."

"I'm not straight," she settles on. "I dunno what I am, yet. But I've decided I'm ''not'' that. ...Love boys, though." She looks down. "I'm going to keep looking, when I'm ready. ...For another guy. For my and Tsubasa's life together... I still want a third, if I can get him. But if I can't..."

"Well, there's other ways."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"You're welcome." Ririka smiles a little, even if it's a bit tinged by the surrounding conversation. "I don't know if I've said it in a while, but... I'm really glad that we can talk like this now. ABout this, or dating, or... whatever else."

"I don't think they're doing it for that reason, but it's still... you know." It might've been easier, if they hadn't learned that Toshiaki had been killed, to really start to feel like moving forward was possible.

... well, it still is, just... harder.

"We will be, yeah..." She manages a small smile. "... thanks." But then... she nods somberly. "... I can try. He, uh... suggested I work on getting closer to you, too, and... I'm glad I did."

She manages a steadier smile, though, about Ikumi. "She is... and I hope so. He'd have been the first one I came out to, if..." Well, no need to get into that. "... anyway. I hope he is proud."

Practice! "Oh yeah, I guess you do, too..."

"I mean..." Ririka glances aside. "... I didn't exactly... make it easy for them to do that..." She lets out a weary sigh. "I'm trying to let them in more, though... um... after I fainted, Dad and I talked in the hospital." She winces a little. "... and, well... he complimented my music. He said it sounded more intricate than some of the stuff on the radio..." She manages a small smile for that. "... it was nice, to know he thought that."

"Yeah. And I'm at the point where, I guess I start thinking about it."

"Cool. Well... when you're ready, I'll be ready to support you." Ririka tries to offer an encouraging smile. "You know... I think about if I want kids sometimes... I mean, I haven't looked into what it'd take, but I still think about it."

Not straight. "Cool." Ririka raises her mug to toast her sister. "... you know, I never thought we'd have that in common. But I'm glad we do."

Mmm... "Well, good luck... and yeah, I guess there are. You deserve that future that you want."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Me, too. ...It's good to be able to confide, instead of just... not really getting along."

"It's OK," Ichika says. "It might be easier when it's not a 'thing that's going to happen' but 'a thing that's already happened.' Right?"

Ichika smiles back. "So far, so good, right?"

"Mm, yeah. "I think so."

"...It's different, our situations like that. I kind of.. I mean, I could've pulled away, but it would've been bad. But you probably felt like you didn't have room to have issues."

She smiles back. "Yeah. And we ''know'' how much Mom likes your music. ...You do know, right? She's clipped all this stuff about your showings..."

"Thanks," Ichika says of the support. "I was kinda wondering if you ever would," Ichika says. "--Oh, don't get me wrong. Like... I have a teacher who did 'IVF', which lets you use all this science stuff to have a baby... but I'd be doing it the old-fashioned way. It's just a matter of what relationship I have to the dad. ...I'd rather it be another partner situation, but... Kind of a tall order, finding someone willing to share."

She smiles back, and lifts her mug too. "Me, either," she admits. "...But it's nice."

"And... thanks. I hope so."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, definitely... I know it took us a while, but... I'm glad we're here now."

"... yeah, that'll probbly help. Right now I'm just... worrying but I feel like I can't do anything about it."

Ririka smiles back. "Yeah."

"I mean, I asked to move into the dorms at Gekkoukan..." Maybe that counts as pulling away in some form. "... yeah. I just... didn't want to add to anyone's problems, to just keep everything together, but..." That ended up not working out so great, in various ways.

Ririka grins a little. "Yeah... we talk music all the time." She laughs a little. "Wait, really? I know she loves seeing the videos of the shows after, but... wow." She leans in. "She should start clipping your articles, too. Oh! Maybe... that's something we'll be able to share with our baby sibling someday!"

"I mean, it's not something I'm worried about right now, but... maybe someday? Though before I have a kid... I kind of wanna get a dog." But a teacher that did IVF... "Oh, are you talking about Ijuuin-sensei?" But she nods at the matter of a partner. "Yeah, I guess that'd be tricky, huh... But I bet you won't have any problems attracting a guy."

"It's the kind of thing that's definitely easier with support..." Ririka nods and smiles. "And, you're welcome."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Definitely."

"Worrying is hard." But Ichika smiles. Then, the matter of the dorms, well, "You did, but it's not just for that, right?" SEES, she means, is also a factor. "Well, you know now that we want you to lean on us, too, just like we want to lean on you."

But Ririka and Mom! "She does. And you know? I think she has! She asked me for a copy of the last paper..." She smiles. "Yeah, we could. That'd be great."

And not right now, but, "That's a good idea. Dogs are great, and... you wanna see if you can take care of something living before you go for the big step, right?" A beat, "Mm-hm. But you can only do that if you're married and stuff, so..." Legally, anyway.

"It would be--" Ichika laughs. "True. Like, I don't think ''that'' part's gonna be a problem--and like... even if he didn't want to be with ''me'', I'd be willing to negotiate on other stuff. But like... Yeah. I'm not willing to lie to a guy about what to expect, so it's tricky."

She nods back. Support... "It is. ...But hey, right? This cake is really good."

It's her way of passing the baton for a minute, if Ririka wants.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"It is..." More than just that. "Mmm... yeah, true..." SEES is kind of a special circumstance... But leaning on them... "I'm trying, honest... I've actually thought about moving back home, but... there's other things I need to be responsible for, too..."

Not that she's explained too much about her SEES duties to Ichika, but mysteriously she might know more than Ririka suspects.

"Awesome! I bet you're gonna be a great reporter."

"Yeah! Dogs seem fun. Suzuki-kun's dog always seems so, anyway. Our dorm kind of helps take care of Koro-chan, but... getting my own dog might be nice. Oh, yeah. How's Lance been doing, these days? I have't seen her in a while..."

IVF, but you have to be married. "... yeah, that's true. Annnd that's another reason for me to not think about kids, you know?" Since there's so much extra stuff that goes into it.

Tricky... "Well, you know what you want though, right? So... that's at least something... but still, good luck."

"And these cookies are good, too..." She takes another bite, in fact. Nomf. "... so, after this, what do you want to do?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"...Right," Ichika says, looking at Ririka. "Other things." SEES mostly? all? live in that dormitory...

Ichika does know a little more. And she smiles at Ririka's assessment. "Thanks," she says.

"I think you should," Ichika says. "And Lance is great. She's as playful as ever."

"Mm-hm. It's a complicated issue; no need for you to be worrying about it yet. You've got time."

So doesn't she? Well... it's complicated.

"I do," Ichika says. There's more she could say... but she wants to work it out with Tsubasa before she shares it with anyone else.

"The coffee, too. I totally feel more charming." She considers that, then. "I'm not sure," she admits. "We should probably head home after a while, check in on Mom."

"But we don't have to rush."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yep." Ririka looks back at Ichika. "... Other things." That she won't elaborate on.

"Welcome!"

"You think so? But... I probably couldn't keep him in the dorm, and... if I keep him at home then that's... well, more work for Mom, right?" But she smiles about Lance. "That's good to hear."

Ririka will wait to hear about more, then.

She grins a little, about the coffee. "Gotta use that charm to find a guy ''and'' get those leads, right?"

"Yeah, that's true... well, if we've got a little time I wouldn't mind checking a clothing store or two. Maybe I can get your input?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika doesn't ask; she's not going to reveal what she's thinking here at the cafe. Maybe another time...

But, "Mm. Well, Mom would also probably like the company," Ichika points out. "I know Daddy would. So it's worth a thought. Of course, you could always wait, and get one later when you're living on your own."

"Heheheh," Ichika laughs. "True. Find the right guy, get people to talk... It's all skill."

"Hmm. OK," Ichika says. "That'd be fine then."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Another time, then.

Ririka considers that. "That's true... And Dad likes dogs, doesn't he? Maybe... that'd be something we could bond over?" She can bond with Mom over music, so...

But later, when she's living on her own... what happens if she graduates and SEES' mission isn't finished?

"Yep."

"If you don't mind, but... I promise I'll keep it quick so we can go see Mom after."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-21: Stepping In

2026-11-02T22:47:08Z

Talnora: Surely nothing can get worse from here, right?

*'''Log: Stepping In'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Arisu Aizawa]]
*'''Where:''' Gekkoukan High School - Classroom Building
*'''OOC Date:''' October 21, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, January 28, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Arisu is being bullied (again), this time pranked with a bucket of water in a bathroom. Ririka happens along and tries to offer some assistance. The two get to talking for a bit before heading to their clubs.''

----

(|================ Gekkoukan High School - Classroom Building ================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
Gekkoukan High School features a rich and lavish atrium which blends modern and
classical architecture, with wide-open windows welcoming students into an
entrance hall with massive Grecian pillars and an impressive stained-glass wall
at its other end. The Sword and Staff Statues displayed prominently here are a
popular meet-up point! Here, as well, one can find the event bulletin board,
various faculty and club rooms, the nurse's office... and most importantly, the
school store, where one can buy Gekkoukan's various popular breads. A classical
stone corridor outside passes by a beloved Persimmon tree in a garden where
students can relax on benches, before leading students to the gymnasium, where
one can enjoy the indoor swimming pool and running track available here.

Up the stairs, the halls are sleek and modern, with diamond- and square-tiled
flooring and traditional sliding doors. Corkboards on the hall walls are
decorated with a dozen club posters, advertising the many after-school
activities available to students here, and water fountains at the end of the
hall are available to quench one's thirst. Inside the classrooms, one finds more
of that square tiling, on which stand desks and chairs two a row. A raised
podium allows teachers to lecture behind a blackboard or a projector screen
which can be pulled down to display their slides, while a desk off to the side
at the front of the class gives them a place to seat themselves down. The
windows are wide and expansive, covering an entire wall; there are windows
leading out into the hall, as well, and they can be slid back for the curious to
peek into the classroom. The back of the room features a second blackboard,
alongside shelving for books. (And... manga? Who put those here...?)

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's Monday! And Monday means classes. Ririka's having a decent day, overall. She has been enjoying the looks and questions about her ''new haircut''--after keeping it long for as long as she can remember, the day before she finally got it cut short, and she's still riding the high of that change in her appearance. It's in a bob with the left side tucked behind her ear, and the right side pulled forward to frame her face. It stands out on her!

... Of course, she ''also'' stands out for the mere fact of being a girl who's 172 cm tall, matching a lot of the boys, and with red eyes. She's dressed in her school uniform, of course, with dark purple tights for the weather and a leather bracelet on her right wrist.

Once the classes ends, Ririka pcks up her things and slings her bag over her shoulder. She's humming a tune to herself as she walks through the halls. She's heading for the practice room to meet the rest of her band, paying attention to her surroundings but not expecting any trouble.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>There is a loud commotion from the girl's bathroom, followed by a girl throwing herself out the door. Arisu catches herself on the other side of the hallway, glaring up at the door way. Her uniform is soaked through as her hair drips down her face. She looks down at her uniform and frowns as two voices laughs from within the bathroom.

Arisu sighs and grumbles to herself. "Damnit. I know this is going to go away. They will get sick of it eventually..."

From within the bathroom, two voices loudly carry on. 'Did you see her face?'

'So shocked each time. L-O-L'

'Serves that tattling bitch,right.'

Arisu sighs and looks at her uniform. At least it was just water this time.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka blinks as a girl is all thrown out the door, drawing to a sharp halt. "Wha--" She looks between Arisu and the door for a moment, frowning in worry-- "Um..."

But when she notices Arisu's condition, that pushes her into action. She quickly rushes oer, kneeling carefully beside the other girl. "H-hey, are-- are you okay? What happened to you?"

And then she hears the voices, looking over. "... Oh." From the sound of it, there's two girls picking on this one. She frowns, looking at Arisu with concern. She should do... ''something'', right?

... If Ichika were here she'd probably headbutt them. That... might be a bit too extreme for Gekkoukan. But maybe she could do something else...

"Hang tight," she says, standing up again. She turns to face the bathroom door, and gets her phone out and the camera ready.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu winces when she hears Ririka. Great someone else is involved. This was just going to turn into a thing that won't go away now. The dark green haired girl turns to look at Ririka, frowning slightly. "I'm so sorry. You don't have to---"

There are two girls just hanging out in the bathroom. One of them, A-Ko is trying to smoke out the window. The other, B-Ko, is washing her hands as she looks over to a thrown over bucket and evidence of it's contains thrown in one direction.

"Tch...nice looking out. You think she got someone involved?"

"Tattling, Bitch. Whatever." A-Ko tries to hide her cigarette as she smiles at Ririka. "Hey, stay out of this."

"Trust us. That girl is not worth it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka doesn't even really wait to process the scene when she pushes the door open, she just hits the button a few times to take shots with her primed camera.

"That'll do it." She quickly pockets the phone again, frowning at the two girls. "If she's not worth it then there's no reason for you two to mess with her again, is there?"

She reaches for a handful of paper towels and then steps back out the door to check on Arisu. "Here. Let's see if we can find an empty classroom or something and get you dried off a bit. I'm Ririka Kawase." She's hoping whatever was in that bucket was just water.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>'Hey!'

'What the hell!'

'Forget it. We got her enough.'

Arisu holds her arm as she stands behind Ririka, mostly letting the other girl lead her through everything. "Aizawa Arisu...you really didn't need to...I deserved it kinda." She adds that last part with a certainty that isn't just blaming herself for what is happening. The dark haired girl sighs but finally nods again.

Once they find the safety of a room, Arisu takes a look at Ririka. Her eye darting around her outfit almost reflexively. As for what Arisu is covered in, it was definitely just water today but you might've heard last time they loaded it with cleaning product.

Arisu curls a locke of hair between her fingers, frowning as she looked more embarrassed than anything else.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka doesn't know what she's going to ''do'' with the photo yet--but there's no way she's telling those two girls that. She just leaves without saying anything else. Let them wonder.

Ririka is, of course, just wearing the standard Gekkoukan uniform--it's a school day, after all. Though Arisu might notice that Ririka's swapped her red ribbon out for a slightly more purple one, and the leather bracelet tucked under her right cuff. "I don't think anybody deserves to be bullied... what happened?"

She hands the paper towels over. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want, but... I'd feel pretty bad if I ignored someone that needed help, you know?"

Ririka's been known as an extraordinary piano talent since she was little, but in the last few years she also started a rock band, Polychord.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu notes the cuff immediately. She had seen those around but never developed the urge to check into why some students had this on their uniform. She holds her arm, looking off to the side when Ririka asks what happened. It was safe right? No it could probably come back and bite her. Maybe this was a trick. She keeps her mouth shut, looking back as she is handed a paper towel.

"It's better if I don't involve you. I'm pretty tough." She forces a smile that is clearly not genuine.

After drying herself off, Arisu looks over at Ririka, finally recognizing the musician from in passing. "Thank you. I don't deserve it but thank you."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>@emit
Ririka's worn it for a while, though her style outside of school is... well, a little counter-cultural, as some might put it. (Not that she lets that bleed into her uniform that much.)

Ririka might be the best at reading people sometimes, but in this case, that smile looks pretty fake to her. For her part, she's sincere in her concerns (even if she doesn't have a clear plan yet.)

"Yeah, well... I'm pretty tough too, you know?" Ririka sits back against the edge of a desk. "... you sure you don't want to talk about it? You kinda look like you could use someone in your corner..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu sighs as she lets her shoulders fall. What was the harm? She looks over to Ririka and finds somewhere to sit. "I...told an adult something I shouldn't have...according to them. Honestly if I didn't and something happened, it would've been on me."

She finds her spot on another deck, sitting down gracefully almost on reflex.

"Those girls were friends before...I was the one that betrayed their trust. Even if it was for the right reason." Arisu makes eye contact with Ririka, nodding affirmatively. She seems to be settling down some but there is a part of her that still seems anxious.

"That's a nice leather bracelet."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
So she tried to do something responsible... and now she's getting bullied. Ririka frowns a little. She's drumming her fingers on her thigh now as she thinks. "Hrm... was it the smoking, or... something else?" She pulls her phone out of her pocket to look at the photos she took.

"If you were worried for their safety, then it sounds like you did the right thing... right?"

But friends before... "That sucks. I'm sorry... but it seems like they're the ones betraying you if theyve resorted to picking on you..."

While she has her phone open she sends off a quick text to her friends to let them know she's running late.

"Oh?" Ririka smiles and holds her arm up, pulling the sleeve back. "Thanks!" she says with a smile. "It's kind of one of my favorites--one of the first ones I bought."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>"No, it was worse." Arisu sighs and shakes her head.

"Yeah. That's why I was toughing out their abuse. Like if I did that...then things could go back to normal eventually."

Arisu nods as Ririka offers condolences. "Its fine. I mean they will either get it out of their system or...well they will probably just leave me alone now."

"It's nice. Though it's probably one of many though. If you want, I can customize it for you. Add something to make it all your own."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Worse than smoking in a school bathroom?" Ririka looks worried by that. "What could be so bad that it'd result in all of this?"

"Back to normal, like, the way things were before? I don't know..." She doesn't want to tell Arisu to just make new friends--Ririka has a hard time with that herself sometimes, after all.

"I hope they get it out of their system quickly, then..."

Ririka looks at her bracelet. "Oh, it's--it not being unique isn't a problem, it's more what it represents..." But she looks at Arisu curiously. "But, do you make clothing or something?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>"Yeah." Arisu sighs and looks around. There was no one else. She takes in a sharp breath before continuing. "They were going out late with two college guys. Real scuzzy boys who I knew would probably do something. Like I know I probably shouldn't have but I got a bad feeling from them the one time I met them."

"I guess. Regardless they'll forget about it and I can just go back to what I do." Arisu sighs and frowns as she looks at her outfit.

She looks up when Ririka explains the bracelet, finally smiling with a little pride. "Yeah. I'm in the fashion club actually."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka winces as Arisu explains what started all this. "They looked like second eyars..." she mutters to herself. "I can see why you told someone... I'm sorry that they're taking it out on you for doing that."

Well, things look... even murkier, now. Ririka frowns. She could tell an teacher, but the teachers can't be everywhere... "Well, uh... until they do, let me know if I can help?"

But she'd rather talk about happier things. "Fashion Club? Oh, that's cool! What kinds of things do you like making? What's your favorite style?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu shrugs in response to Ririka's words on what happened. There wasn't much else she could do with this.

"I'll let you know." Arisu says, fully unsure if she could follow through with this. She was already getting Ririka more involved than she should be. The dark haired girl looks toward the window, wondering if it was going to rain on the way home.

"Oh yes. I love Fashion...I do cosplay with another girl in my class when she is up to it. As for favorite style, that's pretty hard but I do like the Lolita style a lot."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's just as stumped for answers at this point.

"Cool. Even if you just, I dunno, want someone watching your back in the bathroom or something." Ririka chose to get involved! She can at least offer the advantage of safety in numbers, that's not too hard for her to do.

"Hey, cosplay is really cool! I've never ''really'' done it before--" She pauses to consider. "Well--I guess I dressed as a maid for our grade's maid cafe thing at the Christmas Village, so I guess that counts?"

She continues. "But yeah! I know how much work those outfits can take, that's really cool, and it's cool that you have someone who does it with you." She nods. "Oh, nice. Lolita styles are really cute, though they're not really my thing to wear."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Arisu Aizawa has posed.
<poem>Arisu smiles sadly. "Thank you...I think what you did will probably help for now. They aren't the type to take threats well." She hoped that would be the end of it but Arisu has no way of knowing.

"Cosplay is fun. I don't know everything about the stuff I make but when it comes to costumes, I'm pretty good."

She checks her phone and frowns. "I'm late to club..." She sighs and finishes making herself presentable again. "Thank you for your help, Kawase-san. I'll make it up to you somehow." She bows her head and then starts for the exit.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka laughs a little, rubbing the back of her neck. "W-well, I didn't exactly ''threaten'' them... but... let's hope they chill out a little."

"Well, as long as you enjoy it, and you're excited by it, right?" Ririka says with a smile.

She nods, though. "Yeah, me too." Ririka stands up, pulling the edge of her jacket sleeve over her bracelet again. "You don't have to make it up to me, Aizawa-san, I just... wanted to help." She stands up again, pocketing her phone. "Can I walk with you to your club? I think we're going the same direction."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-28: Distractions

2026-11-02T22:28:38Z

Talnora: Reiya has some good advice, as it happens.

*'''Log: Distractions'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Reiya Aomori]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Station
*'''OOC Date:''' October 28, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Thursday, January 31, 2013 (Dark Hour)
*'''Summary:''' ''Reiya and Ririka are doing some training in the Dark Hour, but Ririka proves distracted, and Reiya calls for a break. They sit down to talk, and Ririka opens up about some of the things on her mind, and Reiya offers some advice.''

----

(|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
The intersection of high speed rail along the coast of Tokyo and Tatsumi Port
Island's monorail line from the mainland across the sea to its artificial
island, Iwatodai Station is the cornerstone of daily life to the inhabitants of
this place. Even the most jaded salaryman could get lost in the experience of
looking out upon the glittering sea as they ride across it to their daily life.

A multi-story strip mall across the street from the station offers students such
selections as Wakatsu for sushi high in omega-3s to increase that brain power,
Hagakure Ramen with all the collagen you could desire for skin care, or even
Wilduck's infamous Mystery Burger for those who desire an impromptu test of
courage. Net cafes selling some of the latest releases and hole-in-the-wall
bookstores give people endless options of what to do with their evening.

With this blend of local flavor and modern convenience, Iwatodai Station truly
is the ideal option to stop by whether you're coming or going home.

BGM - Tranquility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvwVzA1z44

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
The Dark Hour casts its pale glow on Iwatodai. It's still unnerving to Ririka, even all these months later, despite having had plenty of exposure to it for SEES' repeated forays into Tartarus. The coffins definitely play a part in it, of course, as do the mindless Shadows that roam around.

But what bothers Ririka most of all is the ''sound'' of it. Like there's something slightly off-kilter in the baseline hum of reality that continually gnaws at her.

Tonight's agenda, however, does not include a trip into Tartarus, at least not for her. Instead, she is at Iwatodai Station, Amphion summoned, the cognitive headphones placed on her head to help her focus.

She has her eyes closed, casting her senses out into her surroundings. She can track the mindless Shadows easy enough, and there aren't any other people--Awakened or not--out and about that she can detect...

Ririka frowns in concentration as she probes deeper, fingers drumming on her thigh. "Where are you..." she mutters to herself. There's something concealed... but she can't quite pinpoint it yet.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
The Dark Hour is unnatural, of course; it should not be. So it makes sense that it would be unsettling. For Reiya it is... slightly different; it sets his senses on edge, makes him more alert. ...And it is physically rigorous; training in the Dark Hour seems to have so much more effect than training in the regular hours, for all that it has greater costs as well.

But he isn't training physically just now. Instead, he is crouched behind a coffin, waiting. He has concealed a few small objects about the plaza, using his anti-navigator abilities to keep them concealed. Then, of course, there's also ''him''.

...But today isn't her day.

Reiya eventually rises him his hiding place--and is abrubtly beside Ririka. "Ordinarily," he says, "I would expect that you would have found them by now." It is a strange sensation, Reiya failing to appear in Ririka's senses and yt appearing to her ''mundane'' senses just fine--until her Navigator senses catch up, and pierce the shield.

"You seem distracted," Reiya reflects. "Is there something on your mind, preventing your focus?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It is definitely a strange dichotomy, to have an extra awareness on top of her more customary senses. Of course, how they work is instinctual, but they still need refinement and practice.

And who better to train against, than an Anti-Navigator? Especially when they seemt o keep running into at least one that works for the NWO...

But try as she might, she just can't pull her thoughts together. She startles a bit when Reiya is suddenly right ''there'', but a quick visual check calms her again. "I almost have it," she insists. "The first one is right..." She points at a planter box across the street. "There! In that planter box!"

It is not there. Ririka stares at thye spot for a long moment and then sighs, pulling her headphones off to hang around her neck. She takes a moment to stretch her arms over her head. "Yeaaah, I guess so... it's almost February, so my Mom's due any day now..."

It's surely come up in passing, though Ririka probably hasn't mentioned her complicated feelings in depth (though they're present in her voice.)

"I've got some of the new songs I'm working on stuck in my head, and..." She regards Reiya for a moment. "... something kind of personal I've been thinking about, too... mind if we take a break? There's... something I've been thinking of telling you."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
While Reiya's abilities are nowhere near the Bride's, perhaps it will help; if nothing else, it will give Ririka more precision.

"It is not," Reiya confirms when Ririka says. Then he says, "Behind the vending machine, there; under the bench. Inside the phonebooth... and there, at the strip mall, behind the bike rack.

her confirms each. Then, he considers what she actually says. "I see... another sibling is a big responsibility. I remember when Yuzuki-chan was born..." Though of course, he was younger than Ririka is now, back then; Yuzuki is about ten years old, now. "All the more, becuase you are older."

Pause. "...I suppose that doesn't make you feel less nervous," he realizes. "I apologize."

but there's something else, and something personal, no less?

"We can break here," he says. "Come." He gestures to a nearby bench. "What is it that you wish to tell me?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Maybe not yet, but... that's what the practice is for, isn't it? For both of them.

Ririka frowns and slips her headphones back on for a moment as she focuses on the spots that Reiya points out. "... dangit, she mutters. "I thought I checked that vending machine..." She taps the side of her head with the heel of her palm after taking the headphones off again. "Man... still, this is good exercise, Amamiya-san."

"Yeah, it's that... being older part... that's kind of the whole..." Ririka shakes her head a little. "I'm gonna help out, of course, but... I don't suppose you have any advice for a first-time older sibling?" Ririka asks hopefully. She's not sure there is a clean, magical answer, but you never know.

She smiles a little at the apology. "It's fine. It's... I'm probably gonna be nervous no matter what."

But she nods when Reiya agrees to a break, and goes to sit with him. (She leaves Amphion summoned, though--they ''are'' still in the Dark Hour, they can't afford to be caught unaawres by Shadows.)

She settles in, fingers still drumming on her thigh. "So... this is something I've known for a while, but I haven't told a lot of people yet. But some stuff happened recently that's... made me want to be more open with the people around me."

She looks to Reiya. "So... here goes. I'm into girls. I'm a bian."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
It's true. They are trying...

"I'm gald it's helping," he says. Then, he listens to the matter of her being older, and that being the issue. "Mm, yes. At this age, your younger sibling is almost more like your child than your brother or sister. ...Well, in addition to supporting your mother--she will need your support, especially as her daughter--I believe the best thing you can do is set a good example and help them where it is possible. ...you must be careful not to coddle, but to support is valuable."

Then... "I suppose that's true. I would be." Reiya does not sound like he's ever been nervous a day in his life.

Reiya turns, leaving his hand free in case he needs to draw a weapon into it, resting the other. He waits. And...

"..."

Reiya blinks slowly. It takes him a few moments. Then, "Oh," he says.

"...I see." He is thoughtful then. "I did not expect that."

"...Hm. You know, there is a long, storied tradition of homosexuality in Japan, before the Christians came and discouraged us in it. I am primarily aware of the history of love between men, but I'm sure it's true between women, as well."

"...That's unrelated, I suppose. If you are wondering my personal opinion, then it makes no difference to me. I hope that you are happy being so. Do your parents know?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
More like her child. "Iiii wouldn't go... ''that'' far..." Ririka looks a little uncomfortable at that. She's not ready to think about being a mother yet , and with her sister's history, well...

It's way more complicated for Ririka than for herself, at the moment.But the rest of it she nods along to. "Yeah, nee-chan and I have been doing our best..." She turns that over in her head for a moment. "Not coddle... okay. I can remember that. Thanks."

"Yeah? That helps to hear." Reiya may not show it, but Ririka has no reason to doubt him.

Ririka managed to surprise a ninja! She laughs a little. "Yeah, well... I don't exactly advertise it, so..."

"Really?" Ririka takes a moment to consider that. "... I guess that makes sense... I never really thought about it before, but I guess it's not exactly new..." But also women! "Probably."

She muses to herself. that could be a good research topic for some song material...

"Maybe, but it's still cool to know. You're really into history, huh?" But she smiles, "I am pretty happy, yeah, thanks. And I'm glad you don't have a problem with it." She nods. "Yep. I came out to them a while ago... my sister was the first person I've told. And I've told a few people in SEES, but please don't go spreading this around before I'm ready."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
Ririka is uncomfortable!! Reiya considers that and amends, "Insofar as you are less a child yourself, that's all." It might or might not help. However, he does listen. "You're welcome. It will be tempting, of course. But the balance is important."

She doesn't advertise it! "I suppose not."

Reiya is fairly still; he maintains the overall posture of a great cat, coiled calmly and ready toa ct at any given moment. "Indeed. Most activities and habits of human people are not new to the world. This included."

Cool to know... "I am," Reiya says. "I was taught much of history as part of what I needed to know to lead the clan one day." He then actually smiles, though it's vry small. "I am pleased that you are happy."

"That's good. ...I know that some parents are not supportive, but for me at least, it would be a priority to talk to my family."

"I will keep your secret. Is this, then, what has been distracting you?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeaaah, that's true..." It helps a little bit. "Tempting, huh... is that speaking from personal experience?" She considers for a moment. "I think my biggest worry is just... being able to be there. My sister is graduating this year, we're almost third years..."

Ririka ''can'' be still, but left to her own devices she is often fidgeting in one way or another. She tries to keep that clamped down, though.

Not new to the world... "One of the things that's helped is just... getting to know other people who are the same way. Remembering that this has happened before feels like another version of that? Though I know... the histories aren't always... great. But still."

Ririka smiles back. "Thanks. So... taking over the clan one day... that must be a big responsibility, huh? What does it mean to be charge of a ninja clan like that?"

"Yeah... I'm pretty lucky my parents accepted it. They're concerned, but, I mean, it's not like I don't worry about it, too." Hence the not advertising.

"Thanks. I appreciate it." She nods a little. "Part of it, yeah. It's... hard, always worrying about hiding this part of myself, or not being able to talk about things like... going on a date with my girlfriend." Beat. "... Also I have a girlfriend. She goes to school in Sumaru."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"Yes," Reiya answers calmly. "In wanting to care for my sisters, I was always tempted to let them rely on me overmuch. ...But we must all learn discipline." He considers her worry. "Yes... I think that's a natural concern. I suppose you won't be able to, all the time. That will make what time you can spend more important."

Getting to know others... "I do not know of any offhand," he says, and his old friend Kouya may have a reason to pull at his own hair for no apparent reason. "So I cannot help except to mention the history." Pause. "...No, history is not always pleasant. But neither is the present."

Taking over the clan? "It will mean that my decisions shape lives, for good and for ill. Whatever I decide will matter to those affected--and it may require that I or others spend our lives in order to achieve what must be done."

He nods then, of her parents. "I see. ...Your parents seem kind, from what you have told me. They supported your sister, as well."

But, "Hm... Yes. It would be difficult. Society does not often accept what is different. Deception of others is one thing; deception of one's friends and close acquaintances is different still."

"is that so?" A girlfriend. "Congratulations. May you have good times together. ...What is she like, may I ask?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Reiya clarifies on coddling. But discipline... Ririka gets how that'd apply for a ninja, maybe, but it doesn't seem like it'd be the same kind of problem for her and her family. Still.. "Well, I'll do what I can, then..." It still seems like good advance. "Yeah... I'm trying my best to help out, though."

She's been spending what time she can helping her mom... though unlike before, she's actually reduced the amount of demand she's put on herself, so it's not burdening her as much as before,.

Poor Kouya! Hang in there! "That's okay." She smiles a little. "I appreciate the thought, at least. But I know more people now, and... telling my friends and the people in SEES helps, too." She nods somberly about the present. "... yeah. That's... why I've tried to be so careful."

She's silent for a moment. "But that's a big part of why I wanted to go help Fukami-san so badly. In that Kingdom? Turns out... we're not ''that'' different, at least in some ways."

But she listens on the matter of running the clan. Spending their lives... "Sounds like a pretty heavy responsibility, then... Do you feel like you're ready for that?" And here she was just worrying about what version of music to pursue.

Ririka looks outwards for a moment, making sure to sweep her senses around to stay aware of the surroundings. She focuses on a Mindless Shadow ambling down the street... but it turns the corner and she looks back to Reiya.

"... yeah, they are. I worried for a really long time about telling them, and some other things, but they took it really well." She nods. "They did."

"Yeah... someday, it'd be nice if I didn't have to hide at all, but... I'm not really ready to be out to the whole world yet. But I ''am'' ready for smaller steps."

"Thanks!" Ririka brightens. "I think we are. Oh, she's really cool, like, she's got this really cool grin? I love her laugh, she's always doing like, these little wagers to try and make things fun and interesting, and she's a pretty good singer, too." Beat. "''Great'' kisser. But most importantly she just... likes being in the moment."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
Discipline is for everyone, Ririka.

"That's vital. To do what you are able. I think you will do well."

but, "Hm... yes, I see. Friends and allies supporting you would make it easier."

Fukami... "Ah," Reiya says. "I see. But you do not prefer masculinity," he notes, looking to her new hairstyle that he complimented (platonically) earlier. "I suppose one's gender is not necessarily the same as one's preference..." Reiya is aware of Hana distantly, but has not personally made her acquaintance.

"Whther I am ready or not, the day will come. Instead of questioning whether I can, I have chosen to prepare for when I must." Somehow, he say this in a calm, straightforward manner. "...There is pressure," he admits, "But there should be. When you are responsible for others' lives, you should feel that weight."

Reiya glances towards where the Shadow is--but does not pursue it.

"Good."

It would be nice... Butit is not there yet. Instead, "Heh. I see. You're clearly fond of her. You seem to be quite compatible, from the way you look when you mention her."

Wagers... "She seems exciting. Perhaps I will meet her one day."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
That's true. Ririka needed a lot of discipline to get as good at music as she has.

"Thanks. And... yeah."

Ririka's got her hair short now, in a sort of bob, with the left side tucked behind her ear. She's been very excited about the new change. "I don't," she confirms on masculinity. "Well... not in the same way." She can be fairly descried as a little tomboyish. "Yeah, those are two different things, but... I still think her situation is similar enough to mine that it makes me want to support her, you know? Her being herself is still something a lot of people don't approve of..."

Preparing instead of questioning... "I guess that's a good way to look at it... and if it's what you want to do, then... good luck." She considers pressure for a moment. "I feel a lot of pressure to make sure everyone is okay, when I'm Navigating for SEES... so I guess I cant argue with that."

There's a happy laugh and a little bit of a blush as Ririka realizes one of the things she said. "Heh... thanks. I am, yeah. It's been... really great, so far."

"Yeah, maybe so. Fuuka-chan asked about meeting her, and we've been talking about it, so... maybe you will." She perks up. "Oh! You know what, maybe you and Suzume-chan and my girlfriend and I could go on a double date sometime? If everyone's up for it. Also Suzume-chan knows, too."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
It's a good change! "Hmm. I see." Tomboyish is something, but apparently not ''the'' thing. "I see. Well, as I recall, you were able to help her." There were reports, presumably. "So that's good."

"Thank you," Reiya says. To his mind, it's not a matter of want, it just 'is'. Still, "As well you should," he agrees. "But you do well. It is a pressure that you can handle."

Reiya is pleased, if quietly so, to see Ririka happy about this. "How long have you known?" he wonders. "I am curious about how people realize such things of themselves."

Then, "I see... So Yamagishi-san also knows." He nods thoughtfully. Then, "That would be fun. If all involved are willing, count me in."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"I was--well, me and a lot of other Perosna Users, of course!" Ririka did report on it--and other SEES members may have been helping hold off the Legionnaires in the background. She did not mention Hana remaining aware of the experience, though.

Ririka had trapped herself in a conception of what she 'had' to do for a time, though she's slowly working her way through that. Still, Reiya hasn't given her any reason to doubt it's what he wants. "Welcome." There's a relieved smile at the compliment. "That's good to know." She nods. "Yeah... it's felt a bit easier, since I lightened my schedule up..."

She really doesn't want a third fainting spell.

Ririka ''is'' really happy. And happier so that her teammates have been suportive. "Oh, well... I figured it out over summer break in 2010. There... there was this girl that I had a big crush on, but I didn't really realize it at the time? But when her family had to move, it..." She looks down for a moment. "... well, I was kind of heartbroken, you know? And in trying to figure out what I was feeling, I looked around online, and... yeah."

And then her brother died a month later--only now they know he was killed.

"Like I'd been on dates with guys before, and I just assumed I hadn't found someone that clicked? But I didn't really realize what my feelings for Yuki-chan were until I found something else to compare it to." She shrugs a little. "But I think some people just figure it out directly, too..."

But she smiles again. "Yep. So does Mandai-chan. And great! I'll talk to my girlfriend and Suzume-chan about it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"Of course," Reiya recalls from the reports. He wasn't there personally--he had to fight a strange Shadow that looked like an eel.

For Reiya it's different from with Ririka in a few ways, not least of which is how he approaches it. 'Duty' is very important to him--he'd say more important than 'wants'. And, "Yes, clearing one's schedule of less improtant matters allows us to focus on that which matters most." Like family, he might say.

But Ririka explains...

"I see," he says. Some time ago, but not as slong ago as it could've been. "So you were able to determine the nature of your relationship by its absence... There is poetry in that."

He nods. "So you are exclusively attracted to women," Reiya guesses. "It makes sense, though. There would be a variety of ways to come to understanding of the self."

He nods, then. "Good."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Pesky eels.

Ririka was also burying herself in tasks just to avoid dealing with some other issues. "I mean, it was all important... or... I guess I thought so. But definitely too much..." She still feels embarrassed about it. "Anyway, with how seriously you take your duties and your training, I'm sure you'll do great as the head of your clan. When do you take over?"

"Yeah, there is..." Ririka regards Reiya for a moment. "... that's kind of beautiful. I have to remember that for for something. Maybe a song lyric..." She'd take her phone out to jot it down, but Dark Hour. "But, pretty much."

Only attracted to women. "Mmmm... basically, yeah." There might be some nuances there she's still thinking on, but it's a good enough starting point. "And, yeah... it's not always simple or straightforward, especially when society doesn't exactly support it..."

"Was there anything else you wanted to ask me? I think my head's a bit clearer now, so we could reset and try again." She pauses a moment "... but first we should clear our 3 o'clock."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"Everything's important to somebody," Reiya says. The corollary that he doesn't say is that it's important to find out what is specifically most important to ''you''. Instead, he says, "It is natural to want to hold everything." A pause. "Thank you," he says. "It will be no later than my 20th birthday. ...There are circumstances that could move it up, but I don't expect them to take place. I must discharge my duty to the Kirijo Group first, after all."

He narrows his eyes. "...And to my father."

But it's gone a moment later, and instead, "A song lyric... yes, that would be good." There could also be poetry about it! But, "Indeed... But I believe your situation won't require you to go against your desires, in that respect. That's good. Those with such freedoms should take advantage."

He considers that, next. Anything else?

"I think it is too late to try the exercise again," he says, "But I would be glad to show you some of my new skills in clearing the enemy."

"...I have no further questions for now. But I may at a later time." He starts to rise to his feet. "Come. I'll take the van."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-11: Finishing Touches

2026-11-02T22:17:38Z

Talnora: Talnora moved page 2026-10-11: Finishing Touches to 2026-10-10: Finishing Touches: Fix OOC date in title

#REDIRECT [[2026-10-10: Finishing Touches]]

2026-10-10: Finishing Touches

2026-11-02T22:17:38Z

Talnora: Talnora moved page 2026-10-11: Finishing Touches to 2026-10-10: Finishing Touches: Fix OOC date in title

*'''Log: Finishing Touches'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Remi Ryuuja]]
*'''Where:''' Le Chat Marron
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-10-10
*'''IC Date:''' Tuesday, Jan 22 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''In an effort to conceal his identity at the butler cafe, Hyousuke calls on Remi for help with some makeup.''

----

(|============================== Le Chat Marron ==============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
Take a left off the streets of Electric City, then down a stairway, and you'll
find a door with a frosted glass window labeled 'Le Chat Marron'. On the side is
a menu stand listing the seasonal offers and any specials.

Inside, one will be greeted by a cozy but elegant cafe setting with a vaguely
European Old World feel. The white walls are accented by dark wood wainscot half
panels, above which are framed posters of turn-of-the-century lithographs from
European artists such as Jules Chéret, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Alphonse Mucha.
There's a bar against one wall, with various bottles set against a mirrored
display. Lighting is kept bright enough to portray the place as elegant, while
also being dim enough to feel cushy.

You'll be attended to by a butler of your choosing, though who is available
largely varies from day to day. Unlike many cafes, the butlers may be female or
male, and their theme, while in keeping with the general turn of the century
European feel, can run the gamut otherwise, as will their quality, acting, and
ability to speak English (or any other language, for that matter). Really, it's
more likely you'd be here for the desserts, savory snacks, teas, and fancy
drinks (non-alcoholic, as this is an all-ages cafe!) than the butlers, but there
is a certain appeal to being called 'ojou-sama', 'danna-sama', or 'bocchama'. If
your butler is particularly good, you just may feel like a member of the upper
class!
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
No matter how many times he wore the suit, Hyousuke could never manage to get used to it. It wasn't that it didn't fit, even if it had taken a small miracle to find an ensemble that fit his height and build. It wasn't that he felt he looked ridiculous - he'd spent enough time in the company of other, more experienced butlers to be assured that he looked passable. It was more a clash with who he was as a person, and nowhere was that more apparent than when he dressed up for the day.

The gloves covered worn skin on his knuckles. The shirt obscured a small patchwork of bruises. The trousers hid scrapes and scratches he'd taken in the course of his explorations. He still stood without complaint, but it felt odd to him to act the part of a refined gentleman when he thought - hell, when he *knew* - he was little more than a screaming brute. But whatever discomfort cropped up was quickly quashed by the prospect of a decent paycheque, even if it still lingered in the background of his mind whenever he went about his work.

As experienced as he was at putting on the uniform by that point, however, there was one part that always gave him trouble - the makeup. The jet-black and medium-length wig sat well upon his head, the matching reading glasses were a staple of his outfit, and he'd long since broken in the shoes. But when he looked in the mirror and squinted at the layer of concealer he'd applied to his face, a frown began to weave itself into his features. That deep trench carved from brow to cheek might have been hidden from a distance, but with how close he needed to be to serve patrons, he doubted it'd hold up.

"Ryuuja-san?" He asked, not looking away from the mirror. "Need your help with the makeup again. Doesn't look like it's sitting right..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, by contrast, has taken to the role with relative ease. Oh, she needed a fair bit of instruction at first in the finer details of customer work and interacting with customers--that was not a thing she ever had to worry about with her upbringing, though she didn't exactly ''advertise'' her upbringing.

But for the actual ''role'', that of a mysterious French gentleman with a charming yet sad fallen nobility air to hi... she had taken to it quite well. And even some of the small lapses she'd made early on with unfamiliar takes she had managed to work into her character, with some coaching.

Of course, she has her own set of injuries that she kept hidden, but that's just par for the course.

Her own wig is a light brown, with no glasses, but she uses makeup regularly to help contour her face a little, to sell the fantasy of being a male butler. Her wig is off, though, and she's slowly working on removing that makeup, looking at the mirro but her thoughts far distant.

'Ryuuja-san?'

Remi blinks, the question taking a moment to sink in. She shakes her head and looks over. "Hmm?" Her eyes--brown with green flecks--squint as she studies Hyousuke's face. "Ahh, I see." She puts her makeup wipe down and steps closer. "Mmm. Chin up, dear," she says softly, "Let me see."

She leans this way and that, nodding to herself. "You're applying it unevenly. Would you like a hand?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke moved as instructed once he had Remi's attention. Stepping away from the mirror and towards her, he angled himself to give her a better look, and remained as still as possible to keep the light overhead from interfering too much. As helpful as it could be in obscuring something that could very well identify him outside of the cafe, the lighting could just as easily prove a hindrance to detailed work. However, he also made sure to keep a slight distance from her. He tolerated her proximity, given its necessity, but that didn't make him comfortable with it.

"Could you? I've been trying to figure out doing it myself, but it's..." He pulled a slight face in place of finishing his sentence, letting his displeasure with yet another failure speak for itself. With him still and angled right, it was clear to see that - compared to when he'd first stumbled in and asked for a job - Hyousuke had gotten markedly better. While part of that was no doubt down to the scar being a single, clean, line carved across into his face, the very basics of application were there. But he was still an inexperienced rank amateur, and his work definitely needed tidying up. "Just wish I didn't have to wear it at all. Feels kinda weird to keep putting it on."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi can see the improvement, of course. Though a part of her ''does'' wonder if it's fully necessary to hide the scar--it's distinctive, and adds character... but she also knws she' not up on all of the butler 'tropes'.

Still...

But Hyousuke agrees, and Remi nods. "Certainly. Hold still a moment." The first step is to remove the existing concealer, of course. But when Hyousuke trails off she just nods. "Mm-hmm. It is a skill, dear.

But it feels weird... Remi hmms. "Well, you ''could'' go without, of course, and..." Her voice drops to a faux, conspiratorial whisper, "There are some girls who go for that sort of thing," She chuckles softly and picks up the brush and concealer once she's finished. "But I would wager that most men in your position do not have the benefit of regular practice--so it is little wonder if it might take you some time to become adept."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
His discomfort with her working on him was clear for anyone that cared to look closely enough. He remained as still as he could, but his jaw clenched tight and his gaze remained dead ahead. He was the very image of someone locking up in an attempt to not react. Despite that, he remained, recognising that it was a necessity if he was to learn to do it himself.
"Gotta admit, getting more customers is tempting..." Hyousuke said, either too dense to realise the implications or making an active effort to ignore them. "...But I don't want anyone knowing I work here. And it's hard to hide that when I've got this out in the open."

It was sizeable enough that the glasses folded up next to him would only partially obscure it, after all, and there were precious few other options available that wouldn't have clashed with the outfit. Ones that he was aware of, at least.
"Besides, I don't think men in general wear any of this stuff." He said, in regards to her other point. He said it rather flatly, with the same ease that he'd have said water was wet, or snow was cold. Like it was a simple fact of life that men would not know much about makeup. "Not like I could ask 'em even if I knew any. It'd be bad enough if they found out I was pretending to be someone's butler, but I'd never live it down if they found out I was wearing makeup for it too."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi can't fail to notice that discomfort, being so close, but it can't be helped if she's going to be applying makeup. She ''is'' working as swiftly as she can, though.

Later, when they have more time, she'll walk Hyousuke through the process and provide instruction. Right now this is for just getting things done. But he doesn't want people knowing that it's him. "Mmm... I suppose that is a conundrum, dear..."

But as for men in general... "You may be right about that, of course... but the number may be higher than you think--turn this way for me? Yes, like that. I daresay you have seen a live-action actor or TV perosnality on the screen before, yes?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
While Hyousuke was most certainly not an actor, professional or otherwise, his impression of a nervous pet at the groomer's was remarkable. Of course, he didn't howl or tremble in despair, but there was still the abject discomfort in his expression. It was mitigated somewhat as time went on and he got used to her presence, but there was no actual relaxation there. Even when he turned for her, it was more like someone shifting a stone in place than the natural, fluid, movement of someone manipulating their own body.

"Sometimes. I leave the TV on for background noise when I'm doing stuff around the dorm, if that counts." Given that it likely encompassed everything from the news to trashy dramas that he was more invested in than he cared to admit, he supposed it probably counted. "Why? Do they got something to do with this?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, at the very least, is taking care not to linger, even if she doesn't seem overly concerned with the discomfort. "One last little touch and--there!" She stepped back to an arm's length, looking Hyousuke over. "Look in the mirror, dear. Tell me what you think."

As for the TV. "Certainly that counts. And I'll let you in on a little secret--every single person you see on camera is wearing makeup. ''Even'' the men."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Though he tried to suppress the brunt of it - if only for the sake of politeness - there was no hiding all of the relief that was on Hyousuke's face when he was finally allowed to turn back around. When he looked at himself in the mirror, however, at least that relief was born of seeing the results rather than being allowed to keep his distance once again. He angled his head this way and that, letting the light hit him at different angles to better see how he looked, but the pleased look never faded.

"You've *really* gotta show me how you do this one day. Thanks, Ryuuja-san, you're a lifesaver." Hyousuke said, hoping that sufficed in showing his approval - though he made sure to address the other point when that was done. "And you're saying all of them gotta wear stuff like this? Like, all the time?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi won't take offense, at Hyousuke wanting to keep his distance. That's why she stepped back when she was done. But there's a warm smile, at seeing--and hearing--the approval. "You're quite welcome, dear--and I would be ''more'' than glad to give you a lesson, when we both have more itme for it."

She sits down and resumes work on removing her own makeup. "They certainly do--at least, while they're on camera. The lighting is extraordinarily bright, in order to facilitate recording by the video cameras. But exposing a face to such powerful lighting can wash the face out--so they use makeup to compensate."

She looks at Hyousuke again. "... if it helps, for this purpose, try to think of it as just a tool. It's no different than that wig or those glasses."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke didn't look directly at Remi, instead performing some final checks on the last of his costume, but he was quiet and attentive nonetheless. He nodded along, then remained still when she offered that closing remark, moving only to pick up the wig and place it gingerly on his head. Neatly arranged, jet black in hue, and possessed of a healthy sheen - or, at least, as much as a wig like that could have - it was a rather stark departure from the honey-blonde and shortly-cut locks that were compressed beneath.

"Just a tool..." He said, looking at his alter-ego - his prim, proper, man-of-few-words alter ego - in the mirror, and nodded firmly. It was a short, quick, gesture, but no less decisive for it. "...Still feels weird to be dolled up like this, but I'll try and think of it like that. Thanks. And for the help with everything else." He tugged at the collar a little, shifted the wig, and adjusted the glasses, until he looked every part the tall, dark, and mysterious man that customers seemed to have a fondness for. Enough that he still had a place in the cafe, at least.

"Anyway, I'm up soon. I'll be counting on you teaching me soon - can't rely on you helping me out all the time." He chuckled, before standing up straight and pulling his tie the rest of the way up.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
And as Hyousuke puts on his wig, Remi takes hers off, along with a wig cap, setting both on a stand. Her face is back to its normal contours now that the makeup is removed. (She also has honey-blonde hair, but it also happens that she's half-French, so she doesn't look fullyJapanese anyway. At least it helps her character...)

But Hyousuke will try. "That's the spirit. And ''do'' try to relax, a true butler exudes a sense of calm and purpose." She speaks as if she's dealt with actual butlers before. But what are the odds. "I'll be happy to give you a lesson any time. Au revoir, dear, and break a leg!"
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-10: Finishing Touches

2026-11-02T22:16:59Z

Talnora: Fix IC/OOC date

2026-10-22: Family Matters

2026-11-02T22:14:20Z

Talnora: Also, Kasumi can't keep her hands off Kazusa's stuff.

*'''Log: Family Matters'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]], [[Kazusa Motojima]]
*'''Where:''' Kazusa's Studio
*'''OOC Date:''' October 22, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, January 28, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kasumi approaches Kazusa wanting to talk, and they head to Kazusa's studio. Kasumi asks Kazusa about her relationship with her brother, and then reveals she's having difficulty processing her own relationship with her sister. Kazusa does her best to be supportive.''

----

(|============================= Kazusa's Studio ==============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
Kazusa's studio is on the fifth floor and tucked into a corner at the end of a
long hallway. It is a single room, long and skinny. Immediately by the door is a
patch of unfinished concrete that serves as the studio's genkan, or entrance
room, along with a few pairs of slippers for guests to use. Past that the floor
is finished concrete, while overhead silver ducts and wiring conduits are
plainly visible, along with a skylight.

Down the left side of the room are a closet, bathroom, and then a kitchenette.
By the kitchenette is a large window on the far wall and a round wooden table.
Tucked in the opposite corner is a folding table with ikebana and calligraphy
supplies. Along the right wall is another large window, and in the last corner
is a loft. There's no bed there (notably, there is also no couch), just stacks
of cardboard boxes. Underneath the loft, however, is Kazusa's studio.

Tucked into the corner is a large, sturdy c-shaped desk made of heavy, polished
wood, with a high-end office chair in the middle. In the center are two flat
panel monitors, with a plush rabbit and stuffed owl sitting between them. The
wall above the monitor has several shelves filled with anime figurines and
various tchotchkes.

The right arm of the desk is left open for working with physical media with a
lamp and various drawing supplies lined up against the wall. Above this is a
corkboard with a cluster of various references and mood images pinned to it. On
the left arm of the desk sits a large Quintic tablet resting in a sturdy metal
frame, with a stylus standing in a base and a half-glove, a smear guard, resting
beside it.

While the shelves over the desk are new, beside the desk are several bookshelves
made of older, industrial-looking metal. One is filled with all kinds of printed
media: magazines and reference books covering things like fashion, historical
clothing, anime, manga, and video games, as well as magazines like Coolest and
several sets of manga stacked high. The other has some more manga, but is also
packed full with various anime and movie DVDs, music CDs, and a substantial game
collection. All of it seemingly kept here to keep it away from prying eyes, with
several collector's boxes proudly displayed (including a few Night Parade ones.)

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Shuujin Academy, After School

"Ah, Senpai!" Kasumi runs up next to Kazusa Motojima's right side, on their walk to the station. "Do you have some time today? I was hoping talk to you about something..."

Unfortunately, she's interrupted by some girls gossiping behind them. "Was that Yoshizawa-san?" "Is that a scar on her cheek? Wonder what happened there!" "I heard she's been spending time with that delinquent..." "Oh, do you think..."

Kasumi turns slightly, her brow furrowing. Indeed, she has a scar across her right cheek, all patched up. Then, she shakes her head. "I really wish they wouldn't talk like that..." She murmurs, before turning back to Kazusa. "So... Oh! If you don't mind, I want to see your studio again please, Senpai!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa's feeling in a little bit of a mixed mood: the trip with Kanae was good, her meeting with 'Ramenboy86' had been... well, full of misunderstandings.

And she can't stop thinking about something Ichika told her, right before she left...

But today is a school day, so she tries to keep her mind focused on the tasks at hand. 'Survival' makes it easier to focus, unfortunately.

But after class she's just trying to get out of there as fast as possible. But she pauses when she hears Kasumi calling her, and glances behind herself. "Yoshizawa-san?"

Her eyes flicker over to the gossipers for a moment before settling on Kasumi. "... fine, but let's keep walking."

She's not immune to it, either. "Where do you think they're going?" "I don't know, but, did you hear about Motojima-san and Fuyuki-san left the school together last week?" ...

Kazusa just shakes her head a little and faces forward. "It's Shujin," she says to Kasumi's wish that they wouldn't talk. "Get ready for two more years of it."

There's a hitch in her step as Kasumi mentions the ''studio'', and Kazusa hisses. "Sssh! Not out loud!" She sighs. "Fine, but only if you're going to be more careful."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"Right! Kasumi nods, as they try to just keep moving. It's sort of impossible to avoid overhearing them though...

Motojima-senpai and Fuyuki-senpai are a strange pairing though, isn't it? Kasumi chews on it for a bit, and almost misses Kazusa whisper something back to her. "Ah, yeah... That's Shujin, alright." She lets out a little sigh. Then, she wonders something. "Did it feel any different Senpai, being on the top of the totem pole?" She wonders aloud. "You know, the 'Demon Queen' and all that... Are you still keeping that up?"

Kasumi mentions the studio and gets an expected reaction. She lets out a giggle. "I'm quieter than the girls behind us, Senpai.~ I will!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
That's the conclusion Kazusa's reached: just keep moving forward, and ignore people as best you can.

And so she tries to do just that, but she gives Kasumi a sidelong glance as she asks that question. "It was really exhausting," she says bluntly. "And I only did it to keep people from looking at my secrets too closely, and look how that turned out."

"These days... not really." That doesn't mean she's any less sharp or prickly, she's just not out to try and rule the roost anymore.

"Yeah but you never know when someone will overhear you," Kazusa insists. "Just... I have one good thing and I'd like to keep it that way."

SOME TIME LATER, IN AKIBA

It's not a terribly long train ride, and the studio itself is in a small apartment building off of the main Akiba strip. It's an old concrete warehouse that was refurbished into studio apartments... but of course, Kasumi's been here before.

Up a rickety freight elevator up to the fifth floor, and then, Kazusa lets them in.

It's a long skinny room, with a closet, bathrooms, and a kitchenette along the left side with a round wooden table, a folding table in the far right corner (which is new, actually), and then in the near right corner, opposite the door, is the loft and the desk and bookshelves beneath it.

Also new: last time there was only a pair of pink and yellow house slippers in the unfinished concrete area near the door that serves as the genkan. Now there's a blue pair, and several more beige ones.

Kazusa steps in, taking the pink slippers for herself before takingthe small step up into the finished concrete floor of the rest of the apartment. "Welcome to my studio," she says.

(Still missing: a couch or an actual bed, or even a TV.)

".. you want something to drink or eat?" she asks as she moves over to the wooden table to put her school bag down. "I have canned coffee, or some tea if you want to make some."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi meets Kazusa's sidelong glance with one of her own. "I see... I guess we all have secrets of our own, huh?" She replies. She closes her eyes for a moment to let that absorb in. "Yeah. Yeah, it helps, knowing that now."

Kazusa gives a good point, and Kasumi nods. "Point taken, Senpai. I'll be careful."

In Akiba... Kasumi's been here before. For some reason, she remembers the studio being a little more ritzy! "I'm coming in!" She calls as she enters the studio, though she's expecting it to be empty. She hooks her bag onto the closet and slips off her shoes for some of the biege house slippers. "Have you been having more guests here recnetly, Senpai?" She asks, a bit curious as she steps into the apartment proper.

She starts taking a look around again, jif only to commit more to memory this time. She gets offered a drink or a snack... "Coffee's great. Thank you!" She ends up poking her head into the studio proper, and spots the plushed rabbit and... Wait, is that... "Is this a real owl?" Kasumi asks, raising her voice to carry between rooms.

Kasumi does, however, pet the rabbit's head, as she looks towards the books... Trying to see if there's a common threadline between the different media. Genre picks? And what are the anime figures of?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Secrets. "Yep. We all have them, and we all want to protect them."

Nope! The studio is a converted studio loft out of an old industrial warehouse. You'd ''think'' it'd be ritzy, but... another secret is that Kazusa actually likes how the place looks.

Guests... Kazusa sighs. "For some reason, yes. The only person that used to come here with me..." She pauses and shakes her head. "Anyway." That would be Wakana, another senpai of Kasumi's in the Rhythmic Gymnastics club.

It's a studio apartment--it's all one room! So Kasumi doesn't have to shout. "The stuffed owl is from my Atelier. Roger-san gave it to me. It was... nice of him."

Kazusa gets two canned coffees rom the kitchenette and crosses the apartment over to the desk area underneath the loft. "No liquids near the desk," she announces. "Except for me."

But Kasumi can keep looking at the bookshelves, at least. They're jampakced with various types of manga, DVDs, CDs, games, and art reference books and magazines. Kazusa seems to like a healthy spread of modern day manga, fantasy and sci-fi, though there's a preference for artists with detaild costume work.

... And a trend towards manga with female leads, but that's probably nothing. Of note is the entire set of the Peony of Chantilly remake, and the entire original Sapphire Knight run. Also of note, there's a few romance manga, but most of them are only one or two volumes in and they're all shoved to the bottom shelf so that they are technically present, but but so that she doesn't have to look at them.

Probably nothing.

The anime figurines lean the same way, too--a healthy mix, but she favors those with interesting designs and there's a bias towards female characters.

Kazusa pops the tab on her own coffee to start it heating up (it's the fancy kind) and leans against the edge of her desk. "So what did you want to talk about? And do I want to know how you got that scar?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
What is that like? Having secrets? Kasumi isn't sure. She doesn't really have 'big' secrets. Maybe just, wanting to have control in telling others about her sister.

Kasumi could never guess Kazusa would like the old industrial look! Maybe Quiet Valley ''would'' be up Kazusa's alley.

"That's fun. It's nice to have friends, isn't it?" Kasumi smiles, hoping to encourage good behaviour.

Not shout! Just raise her voice a bit. "Awhh, that's cute! What's their names, then?" She asks, as she decides to give the owl some pets too.

Kasumi nods as she accepts the canned coffee. She'll craddle it in her hands then as she looks over the collections. The bias for female leads isn't a surprise... After all, isn't it natural for girls to graviate towards things with female leads? She can note a couple different things. A nice spread, for sure! "Awh, ''Chantilly''... Oh! Saphirre Knight!!" Kasumi lets out a gasp! She places her coffee on a clear spot on the shelf, so she can pick up the book to look through. "I read the remake while it was coming out... It influenced a lot of my favourite magical girl shows, like The Rebellion of Calyx... I wonder how different original is?"

After looking through, she crouches down to look at the romance options. Pretty sparse, huh? "Not a Shoujo fan, I take it?" She asks, with a slight giggle. Naturally, she means 'girls romance'.

"Hm? Oh!" Kasumi chuckles a little, as she stands back up, now scanning for any fun, or possibly embarrassing picks... As she wraps her arms around her back. "I wanted to talk about siblings... You have a younger brother." She shifts a little. "How do you get along with him, at all?"

She'll explain about the scar in a second.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa's got more than a few 'big' secrets... and she has a few she didn't even know she had. (That she still kind of refuses to acknowledge.)

But then Kasumi, once again, overestimates how many friends Kazusa has--or at least, how many people she considers friends. Kazusa glances the other way."... most of them are just acquaintances. Except for Kanae-chan and my brother, I guess."

There's a stare at Kasumi for a moment. "I, uh... didn't name them?"

Chantilly and Sapphire Knight! "Yeah." But when Kasumi goes to put the can down on a shelf Kasumi glares. "H-hey! No food or drink on the bookshelves, either! And ''ask'' before you touch something." And Calyx! "... Yeah. I like a lot of the costume designs in that one. Plot's kind of weird, though."

She's got those night Parade collector's editions on display, too--notably a ''fighting'' game. She must be protective of those. (And everything else, as it happens.)

"Not really," Kazusa says with a shrug. The most prominent figurine is actually a high-detail statue of Kaguya-hime, one of the fighters from Night Parade--one of two fighters typically on the cover, in fact, opposite Yuki-Offa.

But it's anime, there's definitely a few scantily clad ones in there too.

"Kazuhiro-kun, yeah. He's in your grade." Kazusa pauses. "... are you in the same class, by any chance?" As for how they get along... Kazusa looks down at her can for a moment, still heting up. "... it's complicated. We got along a lot better wen we were younger, but kind of... drifted apart? But, uh... he really stuck his neck out for me a while ago, so... I've been trying to make it up to him."

She glances over to Kasumi. "... why do you ask?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"Fuyuki-senpai?" Kasumi repeats, wondering. "...I'm surprised that you can call someone a friend, Senpai.~ For a while now, I've took you as a... 'I would never be close to anyone!'... Right?~" She lets out a laugh. Her Kazusa impression is...actually sort of solid.

Beat. Kasumi stares back. "You don't name them?" Then, she cracks a smile as she picks up the rabbit. "How about Monoka?~" Eagle eyed viewers may recognize this as a 'CLEMP' reference.

Now there's just too many rules... "I'm being careful!" Kasumi says, reassuring Kazusa. But... Maybe that's just a trend with collectors.

"Awh... Yeah, the character designs for Calyx are pretty good. But the story was so sweet! I really loved Calyx-san fighting for her friend every episode...!" She squeezes her hands together happily.

Night Parade... She hums a bit, as she looks over it. Looks like a fighting game? Kasumi can't say she's interested, but... She's staring at the statue of Kaguya-hime. The moon rabbit princess... The designs of the female characters are making her blush a little, so she looks away. "Night Parade... Is that the game your grandparents made?" Kasumi asks, turning back around. She did notice the Motojima Corp logo. "Kaguya-hime's pretty interesting inspiration, huh?" She asks. "...Honestly, that story always makes me a little sad. Having to leave everyone she knew and grew to love..." She shakes her head a little. It was one of the biggest injustices of her childhood. Those in love should get to stay together.

"Ah. Yes, we're in the same class!" She nods. "We've barely spoken, though." It's complicated for Kazusa and Kazuhiro too, huh? She sort of wishes that was out of the ordinary. "Sounds like my sister and I..." She looks at the ground for a bit, before sharing her head.

"I was just wondering. Um... I had a bit of a weird experience, actually." She figures she'll give Kazusa the truncated version. "There was a Palace I tried to infiltrate, and ended up meeting a cognitive version of my sister. Who was... used to be just awful to me."

It's a little hard to talk about, so Kasumi looks into her canned coffee. "I guess long story short, I was wondering... What other people's relationships with their siblings are like. Like, with what happened with Nagisa-senpai and his sister." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "You know... With my sister, things were rough between us before... Before she died. And... Well, I don't know. I wanted to hear about other people's experiences."

There's a couple seconds as she visually calculates something. "Oh! That's, uh. What happened, actually. During the fight with that shadow, I got this scar..." She lets out an awkward laugh.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, her." Kzusa just... stares at Kasumi for a moment. She's surprised Kazusa can call someone a friend...? "Wh--''you're'' the one always assuming I have like, a million friends, a-and now you say that!?" She crosses her arms. "I can have friends! If I want to." She huffs quietly. "Just-- what kind of person do you take me for!?"

"Uh, noooo?" Kazusa lets out an aggrieved sigh. "Stop touching all of my stuff, Yoshizawa-san, or I'm not inviting you back here again. Put her down!"

Really, it's a very simple rule with a lot of clarifications: Don't mess up Kazusa's stuff.

"Yeah, the fight scenes did look pretty cool," Kazusa admits. "Even if some of them were pretty over the top."

Kazusa is interested enough to have collector's editions on display! And the high-quality figurine. (Kaguya-hime herself isn't a rabbit princess so much,m but there are definitely some rabbit characters in the game.))

"Yeah, it's one of them. They work on a lot," Kazusa says before doing a double take. "W-wait-- I never told you about that--I never told ''anyone'' about that. How did you know about my grandparents!?"

"... Really?" Kazusa considers that. "I didn't know that..." Kazuhiro, unlike Kazusa, is more personable and friendly--though he gets sucked into acting like a typical guy most of the time (but he's nowhere near as bad as some of Shujin's worst elements.)

Kazusa frowns a little as Kasumi mentions her sister. "... go on," she says quietly. She might not have any idea how to fix this situation, but she can at least listen. "Actually--" She inclines her head towards the round wooden table by the kitchenette. ".. let's go sit."

She'll put out some flavored chocolates, too, as a snack. Once she's seated, she listens. "A Palace, huh... I still haven't seen one of those yet." But there's quickly a frown again. "... she used to be awful to you? With the way you talk about her, and the way you want to achieve your shared dream, I woud've thought you two got along really well."

"Yeah, I don't think anything that happened with Nagisa-san and his sister is 'typical.' She faked her death or... something? I'm still not sure what's up with that. But as for me and Kazuhiro-kun..."

Kazusa is silent for a moment as she considers. "... we used to be a lot closer. But... our father didn't want him spending time with a girl, so we kind of grew apart... and, well... at some point I kind of became the Demon Queen and got wrapped up in my own stuff, so..." Kazusa shrugs a little. It bothers her, but there's nothing she could have done.

"... but he saved my studio, when he really didn't have to, so... I'm trying to do better by him now. Just like I am by everyone else."

But the scar. "... Oh, I see." She frowns a little. "... Your Persona knows Dia, right? Please tell me you didn't go into this Palace alone."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi giggles. "I just thought that you had... friends, you could share this with." She realizes too late that she's stepping on some inappropriate territory here, and tries to shift the attention away. She could keep teasing, but realizes that the 'friends' route is a route where both of them end up being sad. "So, what is Fuyuki-senpai like?~"

"Oh, so she's a 'she', huh...?" Kasumi flashes a cheeky grin as she pets the rabbit a bit. "It's very good to meet you, No-Name Rabbit.~" She places her back down, safe and sound.

"Oh, with all the cars and stuff?" Kasumi laughs. "Yeah, ''totally'' out of usual Magical Girl fare... I'm used to, uh... 'Bubble Beam!' and such."

Oh! Kasumi puts a hand over her mouth. I guess that makes sense... "Uh... Your Atelier showed me a memory of... You with your grandparents." She lies, a little bit at least. She doesn't want to mention that it was actually her father shooting down her dreams... That's a little too sensitive for now. "Also, the cover says Motojima Corporation..."

"I should talk with your brother, sometime..." She lets out an awkward laugh. "I, uh... Sort of struggle with my classmates, sometimes." Mostly. Most of her friends are older than her. Oh god, is she doomed to always rely on her Senpais?!

They go to sit at the kitchenette as Kasumi talks, playing with her canned coffee all the while. Kasumi shakes her head. "I think... The Palace ruler used her face to be awful to me. But..." She lets out a sigh. "We started arguing a lot more before she died too. We struggled to understand each other." It weighs heavily on Kasumi still. "Seeing that...''thing'', wearing her face, denigrating her memory, and me..." She shakes her head. "I hated it. Things were rough, but... Never like that!" Never abusive. Never insulting.

Kasumi picks out a couple chocolates for herself, as Kazusa talks. "Yeah... Hearing what happened between Nagisa-senpai and his sister... It broke my heart. If it was me... I don't think I could handle it either well either."

Kazusa shares some more about her and her brother's relationship, causing Kasumi to groan. "Ugh... That's so juvenile." She replies.

So it was a surprise that Kazuhiro stuck his neck out... "He lead us here to your threads, along with Oosaka-senpai." Kasumi confirms. "He was...probably really worried about you, you know."

Kasumi nods. "It's... one of those things that stick." Kasumi says. "Of course, I went with Mona! But, uh... Well, we ended up needing to get saved..." She says. She's feeling more neutral to thankful about it now, especially now that she's apart of the Phantom Thieves.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa scowls. "Look, the only 'friend' I had that knew about this--" she gestures at the studio apartment, "--was Waka-chan, and I didn't exactly treat her that great. Besides, do you ''really'' think I wanted it getting out around school that I secretly want to be an artist? If my father found out about this place he'd kill me." Kazusa pauses. No, he already found out, and that's how--

She quickly shakes her head. "Just--don't tell anybody, okay? I don't want this getting back to my father that I'm still coming here. And for the last time, I didn't have that many friends--not, like, ''real'' ones. I was popular but just among terrible people, and I'm trying really hard not to be included in that crowd anymore."

Her reputation hits are certainly contributing to that, at least.

"Kanae-chan? Well..." Kazusa thinks for a moment. "I don't know, uh... she's pretty brave, she dresses well, decent sense of humor, uh... I like her laugh?" That's a normal friend thing to say, right? She shrugs a little. "If you want to find out more go talk to her yourself."

"I--" Kazusa is at a loss for words on being caught out with 'she'. "L-look! Do I come into your house and start messing with all of ''your'' stuff!?"

"I'll watch some magical girl animes. They usually have really elaborate costumes, which are fun to design."

Kazusa freezes for a moment. "My Atelier did ''what''!?" Kazusa presses the palm of her hand to her forehead to press down and try to stave off a headache. "Please tell me it ddn't show you anything embarrassing..." Just her and her grandparents. Kazusa sighs. "There's a ''lot'' of people that work for my company, you know..." She shrugs a little, mostly trying to convince herself that this isn't some big deal. "But, yeah. My grandmother is an artist, my grandfather is a designer, they made some of the earliest games for the Motojima Corporation in the 70's and 80's. And yes, they did actually work on Night Parade--my grandmother did a lot of the character designs."

But Kazuhiro... "Sure," Kazusa says indifferently. "You're cute, he'd probably like talking to you. He's a pretty deccent guy, too."

But the Cognition of her sister... "Mmm." Kazusa looks troubled, but isn't exactly sure what to say. "... Can I ask what you were arguing about?" She really didnt know they didn't get along, having a shared dream and all...

"Still, even if that wasn't the 'real' her, that must have been prettyawful... sorry that palace ruler did that do you." It didn't feel great when the Homunculus made that fake version of her father, either...

"Yeah, well... that's my father for you." Kazusa stares down into her coffee can. She nods, when Kasumi mentions him leading them there. "Yeah, he told me about it. I'm not exactly ''happy'' that a bunch of random people saw my studio, but..." She shrugs. "... it beats being a Homucnulus, so I guess I can't complain."

"... yeah, I think he was. I'm not sure I deserve him doing what he did, but... I'm glad he did it."

"Well at least you didn't go completely by yourself... Mona seemed pretty capable int he Atelier..." But she needed rescue. "... well, I'm glad there was rescue available for you. Maybe take more people with you next time, then."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi goes quiet for a little bit. She meant to distract, but... "Yeah." She says quietly. "I won't, Senpai." It must be so exhausting, to have to hide yourself from your own family. How awful... If only reality ''could'' be a magical girl show, with the conflict resolved in an half hour.

Kazusa likes Kanae's laugh? She calls her 'Kanae-chan'?? That's... Kasumi was not expecting to hear ''that''! Definitely not normal friends things... Un...Unless?! They're already ''best friends''????

That. Definitely doesn't make Kasumi's heart hurt. "I-I see! That's... really great for you, Senpai." She's ''really'' trying to not feel jealous. She's honestly not sure of ''what'' she's jealous of, either. Is it just with Kazusa? Or having a close friend her age? Ugh. She really wants to make a friendship with Futaba work...

At least Kasumi bounces back faster this time. "Do you want to?" Kasumi asks. "It's been ages since I've had a friend come over..." Well, a friend who isn't a cat, anyways. "We could watch some magical girl shows together.~ Maybe some Precure, or Dia Witch Iroha!" Precure is so good, it gets to keep it's name.

"Even if it did, I'm not telling anyone, Senpai." Kasumi says. "The company had to come from somewhere..." She says with a nod. She does listen along. "Awh... That's really interesting." It makes her wonder what happened between the grandparents and the father... But she's harassed Kazusa enough for one day. "A husband and wife team... That's so romantic! Are they still together?"

Cute- "Ehhhhh??" Kasumi lets out, a blush coming over her cheeks. "Is that... how that works with boys?" Despite her blush, she starts to wonder... "...You aren't trying to pair me up with your brother, are you, Senpai?"

Kasumi thinks on it for a little bit... "We were struggling to see eye to eye like we used to. She was struggling with her routines and..." Kasumi doesn't wait to say 'took it out on her', because that would abdicate responsibility. "We started getting into more fights, I guess."

"...I think..." Kasumi leans back in her chair." I think it scares me, if those were her real thoughts. I just want one more conversation with her, like old times."

"It saved you, Senpai. I'm glad he helped save you." Kasumi says, earnestly. "You can still patch up that relationship, you know?"

Deserve? Kasumi shakes her head. "If it was my sister... I would have done anything to save her. Without hesitation. I think he still loves you, Senpai."

Kazusa chides her on going alone, and Kasumi lets out a little laugh. "No worries, Senpai. I don't think I'll ever be doing any more infiltrations alone." She's... still not sure if she'll tell Kazusa about her joining the Phantom Thieves properly now. She ahs to worry about her, and everyone else's identities to keep in mind now!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"... thanks. I really appreciate that." It is ''definitely'' exhausting, that's for sure. And may go a long way to explaining why Kazusa is the way she is.

Hey-- Kanae -chan'd her first, Kazusa is just reciprocating! ... though it's not like Kazusa has a ''ton'' of friends, so Kanae could very well be her best one at the moment.

Kazusa has no idea why that would make Kasumi's heart ache. She does give Kasumi a little bit of an odd look. "Um... thanks? I'm kind of lucky she puts up with me..."

And then... Kasumi invites her over. "I-- wait, did you just call me your friend?" Does this mean Kazusa didn't see htem as friends? Oh no. (Don't worry, Kasumi, you rank higher than 'acquaintance', but there's still that senpai/kouhai thing between you two.) "Uh... sure. I don't have a TV here anyway, so..."

"The company's older than them, but... I appreciate it." She nods. "They are--they live in Tokyo, actually. I see them when I have the time. Um..." Kazusa swishes the coffee in her can for a moment. "Jii-chan and Baa-chan are actually the ones who pay for the studio."

Is that how it works with boys? "I mean, it doesn't hurt." She shrugs a little. "I'm not trying to pair you up, do whatever you want. But... Kazuhiro-kun's pretty reliable. Just ignore the flirting and you'll be fine."

Struggling with routines... "And now you're struggling, too..." Kazusa murmurs to herself. Well, a death of a sibling must be a heavy burden to carry, so that makes some kind of sense... "You said the Palace ruler made that 'Cognition' of her, right? So that'd be based on their perceptions, not reality, right?"

"Yeah... and we're working on it. I'm letting him use the studio sometimes, too, so... he's got a space to go to, too. We hang out sometimes." She nods. "I... can't say I would've done the same... not before, at least," she admits. Which is an uncomfortable feeling. "But... now I would, I think."

Kasumi she's going to figure it out ''eventually'', but that's fine. "Good. You know you can ask me for help if you need it, right?" She hesitates for a moment, and then adds, "... and not just with supernatural stuff."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
If Kasumi had to go through that, she's not quite sure she could keep her preppy attitude either! She can't really meet Kazusa's gaze right now. She's just feeling a little bad for Kazusa... Is keeping her mouth shut really worth appreciation?

Well, Kasumi doesn't know ''that''! And Kasumi is inclined to think the worst of herself, so...

Kasumi giggles a little awkwardly. "Well, you're not that bad when we get closer, Senpai." She says. "I mean, you're listening to me about my sister, and all..." She is getting used to Kazusa some more. A bit crabby, and really fun to tease... But secretly kindhearted. Hey! Another secret!

Kasumi tilts her head. "I mean... If you want to be?" Was Kasumi being presumptuous? "I-I mean... If that's okay, Senpai...?" Now she's on the verge of spiraling again... She tries to shake herself out of it! "Yeah! I'd be happy to have you."

Ehehe.~ It's sort of nice to receive appreciation... "Awh, that's nice to have them close by. My grandparents live a while way, so family reunions are typically taken pretty seriously." They're the ones who pay for the studio... "That's really sweet of them!"

Kasumi lets out a little bit of a laugh. "Noted, Senpai. I'm sure it won't be that bad." Couldn't be much worse than other Shujin men anyways... Or even Tokyo men.

Kasumi nods, and wonders what it could possibly mean. You're right. But... Who could've seen her like that? She was never cruel."

"I'm glad..." Kasumi smiles a little bit. "That's sweet. I'm sure home isn't... Well, not very safe, is it?"

Eventually! But later! She hopes Kazusa will understand. "Thank you, Senpai." Kasumi says, earnestly. "I'll rely on you... And thank you, for listening to me today."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa will appreciate Kasumi's effort! Or at least, appreciate not making things worse. (There are a lot of ways that could happen, after all.)

Another secret indeed. Kazusa huffs a little, "Yeah, well... I ''am'' trying more, I guess..." Still, if she'd been less awful earlier, maybe Kasumi would've made it past this mental block already.

... Or maybe not. Who can say?

Kazusa has layers!

"Uh... fine, sure, if you want." Kazusa cna relent a little bit. "... Just... I'm still trying to figure out how not to be an awful person, so if you're willing to put up with that... then sure."

"My aunt and uncle's families don't live close by, so I don't get to see them as often, either, but... my grandparents would would watch Kazuhiro-kun and I a lot when we were younger." She nods. "Yeah... if it wasn't for the studio, I wouldn't have a place to practice my art."

Don't worry, Kazusa would tell Kazuhiro off if he did anything turly egregious.

"Beats me. Did you know the Palace Ruler? They ould've had to know your sister, right...?"

"It's..." Kazusa looks away and doesn't answer for a long time. "... fine. I guess. I just... can't work on my art there, that's all." It really isn't 'fine', but it's also difficult to talk about.

She nods quietly to Kasumi, stil in a bit of a weird funk thinking of home. "... sure. And thanks for trusting me with that. I, um... hope I could help at all?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
A lot of ways... Scary!

"You are. It's really admirable I think, to try and change with your own strength." Kasumi says. "I'm trying my best, too!"

The issue is that Kasumi loves to self-sabotage.

She really has to hold back on a snarky comment. "Senpai, I know already. I'm trying to encourage you too." She's doing so in her own little ways.

She nods. It's so nice to have had a safe space... "Oh! You should show me some of your art, Senpai. Please?~"

Kasumi shakes her head. "I don't even know who the palace ruler ''is''..." She says. "I'm sure we'll figure it out, but it's a little frustrating for now..."

She nods. It has to be a little sensitive... These things take time. "You did." Kasumi says. "I hope... I can repay the favour, someday."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
To try and change with her own strength... "I had to, to escape the Cocoon. I couldn't... stay as I was," she reflects quietly. She look sto Kasumi and nods silently. "You are..."

She scrutinizes her kouhai for a moment. "... You need to get out of your own head more, though."

"Encouragement is supposed to be the job of a senpai," Kazusa opines. Or maybe gripes. Hard to tell with Kazusa sometimes.

"Huh..." She catches that 'we' but doesn't interrogate that for now.

But she did help. "Oh, good. Then... I'm glad." But Kasumi asked to see her art... Kazusa sighs and stands up, bringing her hot coffee with her. ".. alright, but remember the rule: don't go grabbing at my stuff, and don't set your drink down anywhere. I'll get like, a TV tray so people have a place to put their food, but until then..."

She walks back over to the desk, turning on the computer. "... and very quickly minimizes a video editing window. "... do you want to start with 2D or 3D art"

Either way, she has a lot of different character designs to show off, that would fit in various genres.

... It's nice to have some company here, and to be able to share, for a while.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-25: Fox and Wolf

2026-11-02T22:00:10Z

Talnora: Probably a lot of new things on that trip.

*'''Log: Fox and Wolf'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Coin]], [[Kazusa Motojima]]
*'''Where:''' Mementos - Path of Aiyatsbus
*'''OOC Date:''' October 25, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Wednesday, January 30, 2013
*'''Summary''': ''Two Persona Users run into each other at one of the rest stops in Mementos. They talk about cognitive forms, spaces both supernatural and not, Hunting, and in the end an invitation to try something new is made.''

----

(|======================= Mementos - Path of Aiyatsbus =======================|)
-====================================================== Tokyo/Shibuya Ward ====-
The tracks continue, and the station platforms look like they did at the top of
Qimranut, but this time everything is a dark, vivid blue. Splashes of red,
disturbingly blood-like, mark the floor and walls every so often.

Here and deeper, one might find and collect strange orbs of golden light marked
with flowers. However, you can't take them with you; once you leave Mementos,
they'll vanish. The robot-like boy Jose in his blue car drives around here and
lower too, and if you're lucky, you might run into him in a corner set up with
stars and drapes. There, you can trade those 'flowers' to him for goods and
services.

Since he's a little kid, he might want to play games with you too--innocent and
harmless ones, to be clear. Play those games with him, and you might start to
find clockwork posts sporting a great big star at some platforms. Pulling the
lever there will trade the bright star for a dim moon. Pull enough, and he'll
offer you a fun prize for that too.

Every so often, you can find a covered bench where you can wait for the trains
that run deeper into Mementos... though you'll have to hoof it first to anywhere
you want to go. At the bottom of Aiyatsbus is another platform where trains zoom
past on each side, and a wall that opened up to escalators heading deeper and
deeper within.

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Mementos is a dangerous place as you get further down in it.

Aiyatsbus isn't all that deep, by Mementos standards, but it's still more than the shallows of Qimranut. These floors are blue, but still similar to higher up, though with occasional worrying splashes of red. Though like anywhere in supernatural space it can be dangerous, for an experienced Persona-user, it's not too bad to come this far down even alone - though going much deeper would be dangerous solo without a plan.

Partway through Aiyatsbus is a floor free of aggressive Shadows, with a bunch of seats in a covered stop like a bus stop. It's a place to wait for a train to take you deeper, if that's where you're going - the trains stop here if someone's waiting - or to take a few minutes to recover before heading back up; there's never any Shadows hanging around the rest stop so it's a safe place to hang out for a little while.

Well, there's never any Shadows hanging around it... until now.

There's kind of a menacing sound as one approaches the rest stop; a metallic scrape and rasp, then a pause, then another. It sounds dangerous, but if one looks...

...there's someone sitting on *top* of the rest stop, with her little legs hanging over the side, swinging lazily. Coin is taking the opportunity to, apparently, sharpen her sword. It is a lot less scary of a sound when it's being obviously caused by a two-and-a-half foot vulpine humanoid who is, as it turns out, humming while she does it, though it's lost in the noise of the sharpening stone.

She does stop, ear perked, once or twice, as she hears something in the distance. But then she goes back to work.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Mementos is, frankly, still weird to Kazusa. Even with a few months of experience and getting used to its denizens... it's still weird. But that's fine. She doesn't have to like or understand it on a conceptual level, just a practical one.

It's a place to practice with her Persona, for a start, and... well, it's a good place to earn a little bit of extra spending money that she doesn't have to account for with her father.

It's kind of the curse of having a CFO for a father. He understands ''numbers''.

But she's pushed herself today, trying to work off some steam in a way that retail therapy doesn't quite help. So she still looks a little moody and a little tired as she steps into the rest area. She tenses when she hears that odd sound, but once she locks eyes on the Shadow, she relaxes again.

That's Kanae's friend... who helped out with the Homunculus.

She's in her own cognitive form as she approaches, an elegant ookamimimi princess with long blue hair and a starry cloak and a moonstone circlet.

... and something that looks like a coiled up bloody whip on her hip??? It really doesn't match the aesthetic.

Kazusa looks up, studying the fox for a moment. "... Coin-san, right?" she asks, still cautious.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>The sharpening stops as Coin's ears perk. She hears footsteps approaching!

So when Kazusa finally gets within sight, Coin has hopped to her feet and is holding the sword in two hands, defensively across her body. Once she sees who it is, though...

"Ah! It's you, the wolf!" Coin lowers the blade, relaxing slightly, before placing it across her back with a quick movement. "Yes, yes, Coin! I remember you, from the Atelier," she says. "One moment - hup - "

Coin hops off the top of the rest station and lands on her feet lightly. She looks up (and up and up... she's short) at Kazusa as she walks around her, looking at her thoughtfully. Her eyes linger on ears, and tail, but also the starry cloak, which seems to catch her attention; her own ears are turned slightly outward with interest and a complete lack of fear.

"Hmm," she says, before darting forward - to catch the edge of Kazusa's cloak in one paw, rubbing it with the other! "What is *this* made of, I wonder?" she asks, as much to Kazusa as to herself.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa's step pauses when she notices Coin in that defensive posture, and she leans back, ahnd going to her whip. "I'm ''not'' a wolf!" she protests. "That's just... my costume."

God why does her True Self have to be so ''cringe''.

But she stands up straighter (she's taller than Coin, but pretty average for a Japanese girl, at 5'2"), letting the cloak close in front of her. She watches Coin circle her; her own ears don't move, except maybe to bob a little with the movement of her head.

But she does take a step back when Coin suddenly starts forward. "H-hey! No grabbing!" She reaches out to yank her cloak out of Coin's hands. "Sheesh. Don't you have ''any'' manners?"

She does look at the cloak a moment later. "... and how should I know what the Cloak of Night is made of? It just kind of... appeared, when I Awakened."

Wait it has a name?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Everybody is taller than Coin (possible exception: Mona, but they haven't met). She's used to it by now.

When Kazusa pulls her cloak back from her, Coin hops backwards as well as if she's expecting further response. None comes, so she relaxes, though she's still got those curious ears, and her tail is swooshing this way and that.

"I do! But I haven't seen very many humans - " Coin pauses, then corrects herself, "I haven't *spoken* to very many humans. And I've never seen anything like that before. The Cloak of Night? Interesting..." She considers that for a moment, pacing a circle around Kazusa again, though this time she keeps her hands to herself at least.

"Well!" she decides, coming around her front again. "Let's try that again. I am Coin!" She takes off her hat and does a rather overelaborate bow with it before plopping it back on her head. "And you are Kazusa Motojima." How did she know that??

(Kazusa gave her name at the Atelier. She just may not have remembered she gave her *full* name. But she did!)

"What are you doing down here?" she asks, a moment later, too curious to hide it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa's version of average height also comes with a gymnast's build, though the cloak obscures that when it's closed. Still, she doesn't take ny further action when Coin leaps back.

Coin hasn't spoken to very many huamns before. "''Clearly''," she retorts, and then pauses. ''This is Kanae's friend. Be nice.'' Kazusa sighs. "Are... you a fox, like you appear to be, or... something different?" If Mona can look like some type of cat thing and still insist on being human...

"Well the whole outfit is just--part of what happened when I awakened, cloak included." Oh no she said the name and Coin repeated it. "... and please don't go spreading that around. It's not important."

She still keeps an eye on Coin. But whe Coin bows, after a moment, so does she. "... right." She'd never introduce herself without her full name. "... you're Kanae-chan's friend, right?"

She shrugs a little at the question. "... training. And trying to pick up a little spending money."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"I suppose I must be a fox," Coin says, though she sounds a little unsure about it. What is she, really...? It's not something she has a real answer for; everybody seems to have a different idea of it. "I'm a person, at least! I'm not going to chew your face like one of those Shadows. They don't come on this floor," she assures Kazusa.

(Kazusa already knew that.)

Don't go spreading it around? Coin perks again, but: "All right," she says, and drops the topic. For now, anyway. It will return when Kazusa least expects it, possibly.

As for being Kanae's friend, Coin draws herself up to her full height and puffs out her chest slightly. "I am!" she says, proudly. "She is the first human I spoke to, in the Dark Hour, and we're friends. As a fellow Hunter, of course I helped her with the Atelier - with the Homonculus," Coin explains. "And you did as well, or perhaps she helped you with it; I'm not sure who found it first."

A pause, then: "I understand needing spending money! That's where I get mine, too," she says, still proudly.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"You suppose?" Kazusa looks a little skeptical at that, but then nods. "... a person." She sighs. "Sure, why not." If Roger can be an Awakened Humor, then, why can't a fox be a person. It makes just as much sense as anything else.

"Right."

She will definitely never expect it coming up again. Which is a good reason to have it come up again.

"Oh, you're a Hunter too?" Well, foxes ''are'' predators, so that makes some sense, maybe?? Kazusa saw the Persona, in any case, so she has no reason to doubt that. "Right." But as for who helped who, Kazusa shrugs a little. "She ran into the Homunculus first, but... she distracted it while another group of us helped look for the Thread, so... I don't think either of us gets credit for discovering the Atelier 'first'."

Kazusa nods a little, and then pauses. "Wait--are there places that let foxes spend money?" She considers. "... I guess a vending machine wouldn't care..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin apparently has decided Kazusa is perfectly safe, because she makes a come-here gesture as she enters the little safe room. She offers Kazusa a seat, and then hops up on the one across from the one she offered, though she stands on it instead of sitting - it puts their heads closer to level.

"I don't think you believe me," Coin says, slightly huffy. "But... I am." She's pretty sure she's not human, despite her fascination with them; she is from the cognitive realm, isn't she? It's certainly where she first remembers. But just because she's not *human* doesn't mean she's not a *person*...

...right?

"A Hunter, I mean," she corrects, patting the hilt of her sword. "You'll have to take my word for it, or come on a hunt, though I haven't seen any Quarry about..." Not yet, anyway, though surely there's one somewhere. Foraines don't just *stop*, do they? "Well, I'm glad it was dealt with, even with ... everything about it!" A lot of the fine details eluded Coin then; she lacked any context for them. She still does, to an extent.

As for spending money: "I did it at the konbini," Coin says, proud once again. "I bought nikuman. I wasn't expecting anyone to be out of a coffin inside, but there was! Also, Trish takes money," she adds, "but she charges an awful lot, even though I *know* her."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa does follow when Coin beckons, and she takes a seat on the bech, sitting primly upright with her legs crossed at the knee. "No, I believe you," she insists. "You can summon a Persona, so that counts for something, right?"

But it's about being a Hunter, not a Person? Kazusa frowns. "Again, you have a Persona, so... whatever you call yourself, as long as it gets the job done." But Quarries.. she hasn't encountered one, but... "I've heard about those. I'm sure if there were one around Kanae-chan would be working on it. And I'd be helping her. ... and I guess you, too, if you joined her."

The ''everything'' that was Shinichi's Homunculus. "... Yeah, that..." Kazusa grimaces. "I ''really'' hope the next one won't be like that." She also hopes the next one won't come for a while, forgetting for a moment that Yuuki has knowledge of one. "... mine wasn't at all like that..."

"Oh." Kazua blinks. "... there was someone working a konibi in the Dark Hour?" It's called a graveyard shift, Kazusa. 24/7 stores don't run themselves. "Ugh. Her. Yeah, I think she's just like that for everyone. We somehow managed to negotiate some coupons from her and they're prety stingy."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"Well, obviously I would!" Coin is firm about that. "That kind of distortion - you can't just let it sit. It's dangerous, both for the person whose it is and for anyone who gets caught up in it..." Fox tails don't fluff out when they're agitated, but Coin's moves a lot more, sweeping back and forth with agitation rather than amusement.

She tilts her head and considers Kazusa for a moment when she says hers wasn't like that. "Hmm!" Coin does not seem inclined to explain herself beyond a piercing gaze for a few moments, and then a satisfied nod to herself as she comes to a conclusion.

"Well, obviously," Coin says. "I just expected them to be a coffin, but they weren't. Anyway, do you come down here often? I know you said you were looking for training, but I don't know what else you were looking for..."

A pause, just for a moment. "Trish's deals aren't very good," she agrees, surreptiously, like she's letting Kazusa in on a secret. "I trade her things sometimes, because I owe her, but... yeah."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Right, right... I'm not going to leave someone trapped in something like that either, trust me." Not after her own experience.

She does draw back a little at that intense look from Coin. "... wh-what's that look for? It's not polite to stare, you know."

"When I can. For the psending money too, remember?" The thing htye were just talking about. "... and maybe to blow off a little steam," she admits quietly.

"Yeah, I kiiind of got that impression. I did get some new Skill Cards out of it, at least, so I guess it wasn't a total waste." She studies Coin for a moment. "You owe her money? Good luck with ''that''."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"Everybody stares at *me*," Coin says, defensively. Which probably isn't even wrong. "I was figuring something out. You..." She isn't sure how to put it; she cocks her head to one side thoughtfully. "You've got a feeling about you, you know. Like you're pulled two ways." That's resonance she feels; Coin is more alert, and more perceptive, than some people give her credit for.

She adds, "And I wasn't staring that much! But I do have a question. Why do YOU have a tail? I have a tail because I'm supposed to," and she reaches behind her and runs one paw through the fluff before letting go, "but I've never seen a human with one before!"

Coin you can't just ask why someone has a tail.

"And I don't owe her *money*, but - look, it's complicated!" Coin huffs. "She's the first person I ever talked to, that's all. So she pointed me the right way. I wouldn't have known how to get anywhere without her - well, I guess I might have, but it would have taken longer! Anyway, I just bring her things sometimes she can't get herself, when I need to. I can get around, after all! A proper explorer of the physical realm!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"I--" Well, it's not like she hasn't been looking at Coin. Kazusa huffs and rolls her eyes. "... fine, whatever." That's Tsundere for 'You hve expressed a salient point that I have no reasonable counterargument for.'

But she does blink a little, as Coin continues. "A... a feeling...?" She frowns, and then looks down a little, as Coin explains. Pulled two ways... "... yeah. I guess I am." It's even evident in the manifestation of her Persona--the half-vampire/half-human Mina Harker.

But tails! Don't ask what she did with the tail or the cloak when she sat down--the camera cut away from her starting to lower herself to just being sitting. It's fine. "I..." She crosses her arms and looks away. "It's just... I don't know. I only have it when I'm in this form. It's just like, part of my costume, I guess? Like a cosplay thing?"

That answer doesn't ''feel'' entirely satifying to her, though. "Well, the Humors in my Atelier were all like, wolgirls, and catboys and girls, and wolfgirls, uh... I'm an artist? Maybe that has something to do with it?"

Oh, it's not ''money''. "Oh. Then you're probably ''way'' better off if you don't owe her money." She frowns a little at that. "You can get into the physical realm?" She looks at Coin uncertainly. "Are... you a fox there, too?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>The answer doesn't really satisfy Coin either, but she seems aware that she's not going to get a better one - whether it's because Kazusa doesn't know, or Kazusa simply won't tell her, doesn't ultimately matter. "Maybe," she says, though she is of course going to ask again, later, because she's curious and she simply isn't going to DROP something. Oh, no. Kazusa has done the most dangerous thing of all:

She made herself seem interesting to Coin.

Which is why Coin is now leaning forward slightly as Kazusa speaks to listen in. At the question, though... "Nope!" Coin shakes her head. "I thought I couldn't leave at all for a time, except during the Dark Hour, but it turns out I was *quite* wrong about that."

"No, I look like a human," Coin says, which makes her more like Roger than Pernelle. Apparently. Is this a sliding spectrum of nonhumans? "It took some getting used to! But behold! Fingers!" She wiggles her... paw. "...well, I have longer fingers there," she clarifies.

"I stay with Kanae sometimes. She says I'm cute." Coin...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Oh no, a most perilous predicament.

Kanae why didn't you wan her about the danger???

"If it helps, I think anybody that Awakens in an Atelier gets a form like this," Kazusa offers. "... at least, a far as I'm aware." After a moment she adds, "N-not the--not ''this'' form, but, something for when they enter a supernatural space."

The fine print is that she means anyone who has a Transmutation Awakening, and of course, there are ''others'' who have their own variety of cognitive outfit, too. But she's trying!

She does lean back just a little as Coin leans in. "I see." Wrong about entering the physical world... and... a human form! "Oh, I see." She is, in fact, thinking of Roger. She nods a little. "Good." That makes what she has in mind easier to do.

She stays with Kanae sometimes, and-- "Wh-what? She does?" Why does she suddenly feel so irritated hearing that? She huffs and looks away, but is trying to sound sincere. "Uh, good for you, I guess. A-anyway... uh... do you happen to know if you like hot springs?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"Hm~m!" Coin saw Shinichi Awaken, of course, so this isn't entirely unknown, but Kazusa is telling her more than she ever got out of him. (It's not like she could ask HIM questions.) "I suppose that makes sense," she decides after a few long moments, though this may be one of the things that only makes sense to Coin.

When Kazusa leans further back, Coin leans further in. She leans so far further in that she ends up unbalancing herself and dropping off the seat she was standing on, so she ends up hopping off, looking up at Kazusa with a big grin on her face.

"I have no idea!" she says, delighted. "But I want to see one. Do you know where one is? I want to try all sorts of things!" Coin's eyes glimmer, intense, as she spreads her arms and swirls once, her coat billowing out around her.

"Are you, perhaps, *telling* me where one might be found?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa's got no reason to hide that information, so she doesn't mind sharing it. "Though I gues I've seen other people with outfits in supernatural spaces..." Like Kanae-chan! "But not all of them?"

She gives Coin a strange look as she basically falls off her seat. But at least this time she doesn't say anything. (See? She really ''is'' trying. Kanae you'd better appreciate the effort she's putting in.)

... And she doesnt know. "Of course not." She stares at Coin for a long moment, and then sighs as she makes her decision, already certain she's going to regret it in some fashion.

"Not quite. There's a holiday coming up in a couple of weeks. I'm inviting some people on a trip to a place where there's a lot of hot springs, and since you're a friend of Kanae-chan's, and you helped out with the Homunculus... would you like to come along?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin's eyes widen even further as Kazusa makes an offer that she can't refuse.

(Well, she could. But she's not going to.)

"Yes, I do!" Coin practically bounces with excitement. "Thank you very much! I've never been invited on something like this before... is Kanae going too? Do I need to do anything? How do I get there...?" She's going to be going on in this vein for a while unless Kazusa stops her.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa does manage a small smile at the gratitude. "You're welcome." She nods. "Of course--she was the first person I invited. And you should--" Kazusa pauses, looking Coin up and down. "... I guess you don't have bags to pack..." she says with a small frown. "Uh... ''maybe'' we should take you shopping for some extra changes of clothes, or... see if you can borrow any of ours."

She doesn't even know what Coin's physical appearance looks like yet. Presumably, it's a little bit taller than her current appearance, if it's supposed to be human.

"We're taking a train. We can meet up at the train station and go together. There'll be some Unawakened people on the trip, too, so... no talking about supernatural stuff in front of them. Can you handle that?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"I wouldn't mind going shopping! But I have some clothes," Coin assures Kazusa, which is probably at least *slightly* reassuring in that it *probably* means she's not going to show up in a Hunter outfit for the train.

Hopefully she leaves the sword at home, though.

No talking about supernatural stuff in front of them... Coin sometimes forgets exactly what is supernatural and what isn't, but... "I can handle it!" she assures Kazusa.

Taking half a step away, she sweeps into another bow like the first she gave. "Thank you for this opportunity. I won't waste it!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
There are clothes already. "Oh, good. Well, we have time to work out the details, then." Almost two weeks, which is plenty of time.

That sword had better not show up.

"Good." She can only take Coin at her word, after all.

Kazusa nods and stands up. "You're welcome. I'd better get going, though. Do you have a way to get in touch with you?" Turns out, for now it's 'telling Kanae.' "... alright. Then, I'll see you later."

And with that she'll head for the exit.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-11-01: Telling a Friend

2026-11-02T21:29:30Z

Talnora: The other shoe never drops.

*'''Log: Telling a Friend'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kanae Fuyuki]], [[Kazusa Motojima]]
*'''Where:''' Kanae's Apartment, Kagurazaka - Hillside Street
*'''OOC Date:''' November 01, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Saturday, February 02, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa has been struggling with something for a while. Kanae invites Kazusa over to her apartment to talk, and it goes better than Kazusa had feared.''
*'''Content Warning:''' Internalized Homophobia

----

(|======================= Kagurazaka - Hillside Street =======================|)
-===================================================== Tokyo/Shinjuku Ward ====-
Kagurazaka, Tokyo is a small neighborhood in eastern Shinjuku, straddling
Chiyoda. Home to a large swath of French expatriates residing in Tokyo, it has a
pleasantly warm atmosphere, a cozy little piece of Europe abroad. Part of it is
on the banks of a Tokugawa castle's moat, now a canal that provides comfort
while walking alongside it.

The main heart of the neighborhood is Kagurazaka-dori, a street that starts on a
soft incline before moving further towards a succession of restaurants and
shops. The buildings are low and the sidewalks narrow, with pleasant greenery
alongside the walkways, and road traffic is occasionally prohibited at certain
times, providing a gentle walking experience for the tourist and resident alike.

Of the shrines, shops and restaurants that line the streets, a few stand out
more than others. Zenkoku-ji is a classical Buddhist temple that worships
Bishamonten, a warrior god associated with good fortune. On the other end of the
spectrum is the Akagi shrine, a Shinto shrine that was renovated over the past
few years to possess a more modern outlook, with glass and wood as principal
pieces of the shrine's aesthetic.

For drinking and dining, one can visit Fleur de Lis, a bar and bistro themed
after classical Parisian bars, complete with a piano player during the daytime
hours and special events during the night. They can also visit the Patisserie
Kurayama, a French-style bakery owned by one Marie-Chantal Kurayama, a local
Rumormonger.

Entertainment may bring one to Le Cinéma du Monde, a single-screen movie theater
renovated to be similar to an old-style French theater. Here, one can find
movies old and new, as well as a charming vintage aesthetic. Kagurazaka is also
a Geisha district, and one can find traditional restaurants where the draw is to
watch one perform.

The sick and injured can visit the Clinique Lovelace, a side-street clinic that
treats both mundane and supernatural injuries thanks to the Awakened proprietor,
as long as they can withstand the somewhat-shady atmosphere. Several letters on
the signage are both missing and broken, giving a clear idea of what to expect.

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae's apartment is in a lovely little spot in Kagurazaka, next to a nicer building but not, actually, ''in'' a super-nice building. It's on the first floor of a building, in the corner, and the entrance has a roof but is otherwise open-air. Inside, it's small, perhaps cozy; tehre's an entryway, a place to put one's shoes, a small kitchen hallway along with the bathroom on the other side, and then the living''sleeping''eating area.

Kanae has her futon put away in favor of a low table that they can sit at, and today, it' evening. Apparently Kazusa might have wanted to talk...

"So here it is," she says, moving in with the tea she just made. "It's not big, but it's mine."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa... hasn't actually been here before, for all that she and Kanae have hung out. (Kazusa hasn't exactly been eager to invite Kanae over to ''her'' home, but for... very different reasons. Her studio is much safer, even if it isn't exactly homey.)

She's still in her school uniform, and she dutifully removes her shoes. She looks around. "It's... nice," she offers. And she means it, even if it's delivered a bit awkwardly. (Her sense of 'nice' is a little skewed, but she's a little aware that it is.) "Thanks for having me over."

There ''is'' something she wants to talk about, and she can't decide if being in a girls' apartment makes this conversation better, or worse... But this is Kanae, right? Her friend. If she can't open up to her about this, then... who else does she have?

She sits at the table, fidgeting a little before she looks up to Kanae. "Soooo... we were talking about dating the other day, right?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae isn't especially weird about it; she just... hasn't invited Kazusa over yet. They more often meet at kazusa's studio.

Kanae has decorated the apartment nicely; there are photos on rising shelves, cute appliances, and so forth. "Thanks," Kanae answers about 'nice'.

Kanae is people-smart enough to know Kazusa ''does'' want to talk--but she wnts to put her at ease so she can. So, she hands over the tea.

"We were," she says, remembering that conversation.

"Something more to say?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa is willing to take a moment to distract herself. She looks at the photos curiously. Some friends, but also... "Did you take those photos yourself? Those are some nice landscapes..."

And... "That toaster is kind of cute." And she means that one.

She accepts the tea with a small nod. "Thanks." There is a small, but grateful smile at the gesture.

Something more to say... Kazusa just stares down into her mug. "Maybe. I don't know. It might be... kind of weird. I don't know if you wanna..."She looks up from her cup at Kanae, trying to judge her reaction. She looks... worried.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks," Kanae says again. "I'm not trying to toot my own horn or anything, putting up my own photos... but places I like, I want to be able to look at at home. It's like that."

The toaster! "Heheh. Yeah, I like the color on that one." It's a light teal! More cyan.

But she smiles back, and then gently, "It's fine if it's weird," she says. "We've been through a lot of weird stuff togther."

"...It might be I don't find it that 'weird' at all."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"No, I get that... I have some of my art posted up in my studio, too... but you've got a good eye for composition. You should be proud of them."

"It's a nice design, too, it goes with everything else."

Kazusa quickly looks down when she sees Kanae's smile. "I guess we have... we, uh... stalked a boy together, right?" She was trying to be lighthearted but instantly winces once the words are out of her mouth. "I-- um..."

Crap of all of the examples why was that the one she picked?

She swallows. "... I dunno... it... it's pretty weird..." She stares at her tea, then quietly admits, "... I... I don't think I like boys." She tenses up, preemptively getting ready to weather the storm of Kanae's reaction.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks."

And the toaster! Kanae smiles. But when Kazusa looks down, Kanae glances away to give her some privacy--until she brings up the boy. "Ahahah," Kanae laughs, and looks back at Kazusa. "We did! It was almost fun."

But weird?

"..."

"I kind of figured that part," Kanae says. "Considering. ...You avoid romance stories, you have no time for boys doing much of anything..."

"And that's fine? So far, not that weird."

"...It's cool. You can tell me what else."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"It was... definitely something."

She appreciates the privacy, though.

Kanae figured. Kazusa shifts a little uncomfortably, looking up. "But, I... I should, right? Waka-chan enjoys all those romance movies but they just... I know I'm supposed to like them, but I don't, but when I try to make myself like them anyway I can't and the whole thing just makes me mad, and I'm trying to be ''less'' angry about things..."

"... even if it isn't weird there's still something wrong with me," Kazusa says sullenly.

She looks away. What else... she's struggling to articulate those thoughts.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"No," Kanae says. "A lot of people do, but that doesn't mean you 'should'. People like different things. ...Society tells us we're supposed to all be the same, but it's not how it really is."

"...You can't make your feelings different from what they are. It's just not something that's possible to do."

"I don't see that as 'wrong' with you, anyway."

Kanae stays intent, this time.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, well... it's not safe to be too different from what people expect." She should know that much, at least. She used to be on the other end of that. Though she thinks of Haru, and some of conversations they've had. "... though there are things I like that I've never really... told anybody."

"Can't I though? I--I'm trying to change, that's part of why Awakened, I know it doesn't always seem like it, but... why..."

She looks at Kanae for a long moment, and then sighs. ".. do you remember when... when Fontaine-san hugged my Persona?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"That's true," Kanae says of safety. "...You'll have trouble, being 'different'. But for some things, it's not possible to do otherwise." But things? "...Mm."

"Not your feelings," Kanae says. "Your actions. ...How you look at the world. How you treat people. What you do. Those are the things you change. You can't just go 'I'm not angry' and expect it to work. ...You have to change the other stuff, and then your feelings might shift."

Kazusa sighs. "Eh?" she asks, and tilts her head. "...Oh, yeah. That's like her, to take something and reverse it on you."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, well... I went through a lot of trouble to try and not look different... I guess that blew up in my face, though." Some of it was beyond her control, but some of it... was always doomed to fail.

"I don't ''like'' my feelings though. I'm always angry or upset about something, or I have to watch my back, or watch my figure, or ''something'', and it just... I feel so tired sometimes."

There's a lot in her life she feels like she can't control...

"... yeah, well... it's ''kind'' of been stuck in my head. Why did she have to... to do ''that''? Ugh."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Right."

Still, "...It's OK to be tired," Kanae settles on saying instead, for the moment; there's not a lot else she ''can'' say, to all that. She has the way she thinks of it, of coursse, but...

"Honestly," Kanae says, "I only vaguely remember it. So I couldn't tell you."

"...But I think you're getting sidetracked. You didn't come over to talk about Isabeau, did you?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
She's kind of got a lot of things jumbled together that she's trying to pick apart. And her sidetrack isn't necessarily a sidetrack. But as for tired. "... thanks."

"I mean, I don't know, I guess not? But, also maybe kinda? It's her fault I even started thinking about any of this to begin with, and--" Kazusa catches herself and takes a deep breath.

"... I kind of like monster stuff? Like they can have designs and whatever, but I never really... 'got' vampire stuff for more than that... until I found it with female vampires." Kazusa is blushing and avoiding eye contact now.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae mostly doesn't want to try to speak for Isabeau; it might be relevant, but it's not an angle she can ''do'' anything with. ...Still--

Kazusa catches herself, so Kanae lets that part go. Instead, she listens to the rest. "...Hm."

"Go on," Kanae encourages.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
If Kazusa were a little bit more out of her own head she might realize what's keeping Kanae from speaking on that part. (But she isn't.)

Kazusa looks at Kanae like she's still expecting the other girl to have a negative reaction, but when she only encourages Kazusa to keep speaking, Kazusa looks away again.

"... I was looking up some art online, and when it was a female vampire biting another girl it was like... it made sense? Like I suddenly 'got it'? Except, I didn't ''want'' to get it, because of that whole... being different thing."

She lets out a long sigh."... I thought it was just... a fluke, because, you know, Mina is a half-vampire, and Isabeau's a girl, so... so I had to ''check'', and..."

She shifts a little. "... I think I like some of it for reasons other than that," she admits ina small voice.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae waits for it--no negative reaction apparent, just ease of talking to someone. She listens along. "...Yeah?"

She 'got it', but didn't 'want' to get it.

Kanae is quiet for a few moments. She waits for Kazusa to elaborate--and when she doesn't...

"It sounds like that's true," Kanae says. "But it's OK, you know? ...To like what you like."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kanae's lack of a negative reaction is definitely helping. It's taking a lot out of Kazusa to just even try to start to articulate this.

Even if part of her is still kind of afraid the other shoe might drop.

"Except... what I like isn't exactly..." Kazusa stares at her tea. "Once I got the idea in my head I kind of started noticing... that is..."

She forces herself to take a deep breath, and the next part comes out in a rush."What if I don't like boys, but maybe I like girls?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae has guessed at this before--but nwo that Kazusa's worked up to it, she's ''sure'' of it. At the same time, she doesn't want to put words in Kazusa's mouth; she keeps her expression neutral, head tilted Kazusa's way as she listens without trying to stare.

No shoe drops.

"Then..."

"That's OK," Kanae says. She thinks about making a joke--but just this once, she doesn't.

"...I get why you'd feel worried about it. It's not easy, how people treat people like that. But it's not a bad thing, in and of itself."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa, for all the secrets she feels she has to keep, is rarely subtle. Still, the lack of a shoe somehow feels just as bad as there being one. "That's okay? I'm having this entire frekaout and all of you have to say is just--"

She cuts herself off and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Sorry. That's not called for. I'm just... Sorry."

She ''really'' hates being angry and so on-edge all the time, as it happens.

(It's a good thing Kanae didn't go for the joke yet.)

Her hand falls to her lap and she nods. "Yeah, well... I know how ''I'' used to treat people like that..." She looks aside, guiltily. She looks to Kanae again after a long moment. "... you really don't think it's bad? You're not just..."

She could spin any number of disaster scenarios, but if she's being honest with herself, none of those fit Kanae.

"... I don't know..." She sets her tea down and slumps over the table, burying her face in her hands. "Where do I even ''go'' from here?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"No, it's not," Kanae agrees, called-for. She's not intending to be a doormat--but she's patient, too. "It's fine. You're in a sensitive spot."

But, "...Yes," Kanae agrees. "You were bad." She pauses. "But this? No, I don't think it's bad. Why would I tell you otherwise? It's not like hanging around you is going to ''improve'' my social prospects."

"...I'm reacting like I am because it's what I feel--and because we're friends."

Kanae lifts her tea, takes a sip. "...That, I don't know," she admits.

"But 'telling a friend' is a good step. I hear that's how it works."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Sorry. I just-- I feel like I'm always wound tight. I hate feeling this way." And trying to figure this out has had her even more so. "... thanks."

Kazusa opens her mouth to say something to that remark, but she can't quite seem to form the words. But Kanae just neatly pointed out why all of those scenarios don't work. "... I ''should'' be upset by how you phrased that but you're right," she grudgingly admits.

"... thanks. For listening. Even if I'm a mess trying to explain myself." She sighs and finally goes for her own tea to take a sip. It's a moment not to say anything. "... well, I guess I did that."

She watches the ripples in her tea cup. Softly, she says, "... there's no changing my feelings, huh." It's not really a question.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"You've got reasons," Kanae says. "...So you're welcome."

"Heh. I'm just being honest about it. We're on the outside together. ...If we understand that, then at least we're there together."

"You're welcome," Kanae says again. "It's hard stuff to deal with. Hard stuff to understand... hard to face. Especially when you're under a lot of pressure already, right?"

"Mm," Kanae answers. No need to rub it in.

Instead, she sips her tea.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Being on the outside sucks," Kazusa opines. But after a moment she adds, "... not that being on the inside is a lot better. It's a lot of work." But she does manage to crack a smile as she looks to Kanae. "... the outside's ot so bad if I'm there with you, though."

It's hard all around. Pressure... Kazusa nods mutely, and then adds, "... yeah."

"... it kind of explains a lot, but... it also feels like one more secret to keep, too..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Mm." It can suck. But Kanae smiles back at the last. "...It's nice to be appreciated," she settles on, and keeps her tea in both hands. She looks into it for a moment, at the matter of secrets.

"Right. Your parents wouldn't approve," Kanae ventures. It's not any more a question than changing her feelings was. "...You can't really take Isabeau's approach," she says. "So..."

"Whatever you figure out, I'll support you if I can. All right?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa looks down a little too quickly when Kanae smiles back. Suddenly her tea is really interesting. "... I really do appreciate you. Even if I'm bad at showing it sometimes."

"... ''I'm'' still not sure I approve, but... yeah. They definitely wouldn't." She lets out a quiet huff. "I'm not sure anybody can do what Fontaine-san does except for Fontaine-san."

Kanae offers support, and... it's something Kazusa sorely needs. "Thanks. It was eating at me and I was... really scared to even say anything. But if I figure out more, I'll... let you know. Thanks, Kanae-chan."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"You'll get better at it," Kanae assures Kazusa. She grins; it's a bold sort of thing to say. But...

"And you'll get there." Pause. Only Isabeau can do what Isabeau dose. Maybe that's true. "Heh," Kanae answers--and then, Kazusa explains...

"Cool," Kanae answers. "You're welcome, Kazusa-chan. ...I'm glad to be here for you."

Then she rises from her seat after putting down her cup. "This calls for snacks. ...Sec."

Good snacks.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
That grin... "I-I'll try," Kazusa says, fidgeting with a strand of hair before pushing it behind her ear.

"... maybe." She's not sure she will, but she also still just has a lot to figure out.

"I'm glad too. Um... let me know if there's anything I can help you with too, okay?" After a beat she adds, "... though I'm not sure there's anything I can do for either of our social standings."

She nods, "Okay."

It's definitely a good moment for snacks.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

User:Talnora/sandbox

2026-10-31T04:39:52Z

Talnora: Testing something

= Testing Log Listing =
{{#dpl:
|category = Season 1, Episode 1
|category = logs
|ordermethod = title
}}
= Logs and Cutscenes =

== Season 1 ==

=== Episode 1 ===

'''June 2012'''
<div style="column-count: 2;">
{{#dpl:
|category = Season 1, Episode 1
|category = logs¦cutscenes
|linksto = Ririka Kawase
|titlegt = 2025-06-26
|titlelt = 2025-08-24
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat = width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|addcategories = true
|mode = userformat
|format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]] ,
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}</div>

'''July 2012'''
<div style="column-count: 2;">
{{#dpl:
|category = Season 1, Episode 1
|category = logs¦cutscenes
|linksto = Ririka Kawase
|titlegt = 2025-08-25
|titlelt = 2025-10-25
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat = width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|addcategories = true
|mode = userformat
|format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]] ,
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}</div>

'''August 2012'''
<div style="column-count: 2;">
{{#dpl:
|category = Season 1, Episode 1
|category = logs¦cutscenes
|linksto = Ririka Kawase
|titlegt = 2025-10-26
|titlelt = 2025-12-26
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat = width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|addcategories = true
|mode = userformat
|format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]] ,
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}</div>

2026-10-26: Drinks at the Parabellum

2026-10-27T04:44:51Z

Talnora: Time to hit the club!

*'''Log: Drinks at the Parabellum'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Remi Ryuuja]], [[Hana Fukami]]
*'''Where:''' Aoba Way
*'''OOC Date:''' October 26, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Wednesday, January 30, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Hana and Remi arrange to meet for drinks at the Parabellum--and Hana brings Miyako, her... well, that's complicated. But the three enjoy drinks and getting to know each other.''

----

(|================================= Aoba Way =================================|)
-=================================================== Sumaru City/Aoba Ward ====-
Ample shopping can be found at the stores that dot Aoba Way, but not just the
normal kind. Aside from a door to the Velvet Room for Persona Users, one can
hear and spread all kinds of rumors at Kuzunoha Detective Agency. At the
internet cafe Double Slash, one can surf on the web to find some of those very
rumors *and* munch on various snacks served at the back bar by an apathetic
teenage boy. The blue carpeting and wall-to-wall aquariums lend the place a
relaxing atmosphere.

The bar Parabellum has a more noir vibe, with a mostly wooden interior, brown
leather seats, green glass lamps, and brick pillars along the walls. The elderly
barkeeper offers a number of unique mixed drinks, all named after weapons...
which might be a clever cover for the fact that, according to rumor, he sells
*real* weapons. The fashion boutique Rosa Candida offers the latest in trends
and (per rumor) armor, its decor stark yet stylish, with clothes and bags alike
on display for customers along the walls and on a central table. A pair of
changing rooms are naturally available; to use them, just get the permission of
the saleswoman in red first.

Etheria offers spa treatments to the weary among bright lamps, stained glass
windows, off-white decor, and an esthetician with a giant blue crystal crown.
The name of the place fuses "ether" and "materia," and the treatments are
effective: those who use this spa walk away feeling refreshed in mind and body.

And, of course, it's not Sumaru City without a local Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy
branch. This one looks the same as all the others: aisles and walls laden with
medicine of all kinds, overseen from the back counter where magazines are
available by one of seven identical sisters. Satomi Sister #1 runs this one; an
English-language piano version of the store's theme plays here. "Always in the
side of those who fight: our local... drug store~ o/`"

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi has been, if she's being honest, in a bit of a rut. Of course, the circumstances that have led to that are quite understandable, but it doesn't really change the fact of it. But one of her dearest friends has advised her to get out more, and she recently made a new friend (or perhaps it is more accurate to say, reconnected with an old one), and that, at least, is a place to start!

(Also helping: her efforts to establish herself as a Rumormonger, which finally seems to have caught on, and is at least an entertaining source of novelty, and a good way to keep an ear out for specific kinds of trouble.)

And so Remi is here at the tastefully appointed Parabellum, decked out in green and gold with stained glass lamps. She's grabed a table, and is dressed in a dark red dress and ankle boots, dark tights, and a black jacket, with her wavy honey blonde hair falling down around her shoulders.

At the moment, she's checking something on her phone as she waits for her friend.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Hana, on the other hand, has been doing quite well since the matter of her Kingdom was resolved. It's been two weeks since she got out of there, and there's been time to settle into her new apartment that she didn't have before as well as time to adapt to certain supernatural truths. Things with her partners are good, though not entirely ''settled'' with everything that came out for Hana. And...

She's reconnected with an old acquaintance who's quickly become a friend!

It was decided that they'd meet in Sumaru instead of Tokyo for a few reasons--one of which is that Hana wants to take advantage of Parabellum's 'secret' stock later. She has something on order..

But right now, Hana approaches with another woman. Hana's in pink, a short backless dress with a halter strap neckline and some lighter patterns, along with some jewelry and other accessories. and a white coat that she's going to shed at the table. As women go she's relatively tall at 5'5" before her heels--but her companion is about her same height, 5'4". in teal with a higher neckline and a plaid coat to go with it. She's in flats.

"Remi-chan," Hana greets warmly when she makes it over, and both of them remove their coats. "It's lovely tos ee you. This is Miyako Akimoto, my..." She glances around the bar, "Very good friend. Ya-chan, this is Remi Ryuuja."

Miyako bows lightly. "It's nice to meet you," she says.

They will sit!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi had a coat (and scarf, and hat ''and'' gloves--she's really been bundling up this winter) that has, likewise, also been set aside. Her ankle boots don't have much of a heel, but she's 5'6"--though she's also visibly not fully Japanese, which also explains the hair.

She is, of course, familiar with the special wares dold here... though she's never partaken.

She smiles warmly and slips her phone away, rising to greet the two new arrivals. "Hana-chan, so wonderful to see you," she says effusively. And she turns that smile to Miyako next. "Akimoto-san, it's very nice to meet you, dear." She'll return the bow, and then sit.

"How are the two of you doing tonight?" she asks. "I do hope the traffic wasn't too bad."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
That means, by virtue of heels, Hana is tied for tallest! ...That's not super unusual for her among women, anyway.

Hana smiles warmly, and while Miyako is a little less effusive, it's probably just because she doesn't know Remi yet. "Thank you," Miyako says. Once they sit down...

"We're good," Hana says. "The traffic wasn't too bad or anything. We actually took the train this time."

Miyako adds, "Just in case." A beat, "I heard ahout you from Na-chan, and I admit, i was pretty curious about a friend from her school days..." She smiles. "Your hair's lovely, by the way. I can tell the care you put into keeping it."

"How are you?" Hana adds then.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, of course, knows someone even taller than her... but she, too, is used to being a tall outlier.

Remi just tends to be like that naturally, and it'd feel a bit weird to switch so sharply, in any case, when she was being so warm to Hana to start with.

"I see, I see. Well that's good then--thank goodness the trains are so reliable, mmm?," she replies to Hana. And then she smiles to Miyato. "Only good things, I hope?" she says with a playful tone. "Curious? Well, I must say, I am also curious to get to know such a very good friend of Hana-chan's."

She smiles widely at the compliment, reaching up to tuck a strand behind her ear. "Why, ''thank'' you dear, that's kind of you to say." She tends to present herself as effusive in general, but her voice grows a little warmer at the compliment.

She doesn't always get compliments on her hair, considering, so it's nice when she does.

She leans forward a little. "Your makeup is quite striking, dear... and you have some lovely definition in your arms."

"I'm doing quite well," Remi replies to Hana. "Keeping busy, as always. A little hobby of mine seems to have taken off lately, so I'm quite grateful for that. Is there anything new happening with you?" And not to leave out Miyako, Remi directs another question her way. "And I must admit, I am rather curious about you, as well. What do you for a living?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Miho Ijuuin in many situations is the ''tallest''. And even when she's not, she's up there!

Miyako's just a little more retiring than hostess Hana or butler(!?) Remi. "Definitely," Hana agrees about the trains. She was hoping to drink tonight, after all; it wouldn't do to drive. And Miyako adds, softly, "It's a long story, her and me. But I am! An old acting friend? That's got to be interesting."

And it is kind, in some ways--it's a sign prhaps that Miyako for one isn't going to give Remi trouble for being half-French. ...Well, it dosn't necessarily mean that, but it's true.

"Ah, thank you--Day to day I don't do a ton of makeup, so I try to do it really well when I get the chance." And indeed; she has dark shadow that works with her brown eyes and blue hair, and an almost-perfect dark red lip. But, definition? She grins. "I'm a swimmer," she explains.

Hana, meanwhile, lifts her drink--she brought it with her to the booth--and smiles at Remi. "Is that so? I'm glad, then." She's curious, inviting Remi with her eyes to elaborate on the hobby.

She doesn't answer the matter of new things immediately; instead, Miyako answers, "I'm a stuntwoman. I work at the station with everyone. It's fun work--I get to use my athleticism, and be around attractive people." She laughs a little at her own joke.

"Well," she says, "I'm trying to spend more time with Ya-chan here," she says, and reaches out to touch Miyako's hand briefly. Miyako smiles at her, and then they both look back at Remi. "But mostly, life goes on as it is! The show is going well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi is, at times, a butler! But she was also, for a time, something of a socialite, and still possessed of a theatrical flair, so she trends towards being a bit exaggerated. But she'll tone down the energy a bit so as to make sure that she doesn't overwhelm Miyako.

"Well, I do love me a good tale," Remi says, but she smiles. I should hope so. I was quite surprised when I ran into Hana again after all these years."

Remi is certainly grateful not to be hassled over that--she can handle herself, of course, but she trusts Hana not to set up that sort of situation to begin with, too.

"I see. That's understandable, then, to go all-out when you rarely have the chance." A swimmer! "I see. You must work hard at it, then."

Remi smiles and raises her drink in return. It's had a few sips, but, she mostly waited for Hana and Miyako to arrive. She chuckles quietly, taking the invitation. "I don't suppose you know anything of Sumaru's Rumormongers?"

Remi laughs when Miyako makes her joke. "We should ''all'' be so lucky, hmm? But ''stuntwoman'', how fascinating. Do you consider it alike at all to acting? I will admit, I am a bit of a fan of stage combat myself, though it has been quite a bit since I've gotten the chance."

"I see," she replies to Hana, of what she's up to. "Then I hope the two of you have an enjoyable evening. And I'm delighted to hear that your show continues to go well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Hmmm. Somewhere more private I'll tell you about it," Miyako decides. "But the short version is that Na-chan and I were friends first--we met through our previous partners. ...It's a pleasant story, at least." She smiles though. "Na-chan makes it easy to be happy to see her. I think that's half her job, right there."

hana meanwhile, adds, "She does! She's really quite the athlete." Miyako replies, "Thanks--it's important to me to stay in tune with my body. I never really feel as clear-headed as I do when I'm exercising."

As for the makeup--she is pretty happy with that. She does a ''little'' day to day--but not as much as tonight.

"Hmm... I know Sumaru has a big culture of rumors, but..." Miyako is not. "I'm aware," Hana says, on the other hand. "You can hear all kinds of really interesting things here. ...Like about how this place likes its guns."

Stunts! Miyako nods. "Definitely--you won't be showing your facial expressions as much, but your body language has to match the actor's, at the same time that you're doing complex physical activity. You're into it yourself?"

Hana then, "Oh, don't worry--you're not a third wheel. Having a friend with us was kind of ideal... It gives a little more atmosphere."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"Of course," Remi replies to saving the full tale for someplace more private. "I see. I am glad it is a happ tale, at least." Half the job... "... it's a wonderful thing, to ahve someone you look forward to seeing," she says a bit softly.

She'll try not to think about that too hard, for a moment.

"I imagine being in tune with your body must also be a great boon to your stuntwork, as well. Swimming sounds like a lovely idea, though... it has rather been far to cold, as of late..." In more ways than one.

She has to work pretty hard to stay in tune with her own body, as it happens, but for a far different reason.

"That would, indeed, be one of those many rumors," Remi confirms. For Miyako, she explains, "There are quite a few individuals who make it their business to gather, know, and trade in rumors and miscellaneous information--we call them Rumormongers. And, well, I can call myself a Rumormonger now, too."

Stunts! Remi looks thoughtful at the explanation, nodding slowly. "I'd never stopped to consider it before, but that does make sense, that you would have to match the actor's physical performance, in addition to doing the stunt itself. How long have you been in that line of work?" She smiles. "Well, I was rather into a very particular form of it, I suppose. But I grew up on tales of derring do, so perhaps it was inevitable."

"Mmm... I ''do'' rather appreciate you saying so, Hana-chan," says Remi after a moment. "If it is atmosphere you require I shall be glad to give it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"It is," Miyako agrees with Remi. "...And sometimes it's all the better, if you have more than one."

But--

"It is," Miyako answers. "Hmm--I know a place with a heated pool in Tokyo, if you're interested."

But Hana caught a rumor! Hooray! she's very interested to hear that Remi is taking up that particular mantle. "Fascinating," Hana says. "Well, you'll have to tell me if you come across anything worth sharing! I might have to find some, too... To trade, of course."

Miyako nods along to Remi's response. "That's just it. And me? About... five, six years now--since I graduated university." She's older than Hana!

"Swordplay, then? That's fun."

Hana then smiles. "You see," she says, "We're more... partners of partners, at the moment. I thought it would be easier to get to know each other more in a group, with a friend..."

Miyako nods. "And maybe we can be friends, too."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
More than one... "Mmm. I imagine so." Not that she's had that type of relationship lately, but back in high school.. well, she doesn't want to dwell on that now.

"A heated pool..." Remi pauses to considerthat for a moment. It's a serious consideration for her, of course--her body runs a lot chillier, and there is the other matter... "You know what? I may take you up on that. It shall be worth trying at least once, I think."

Remi chuckles and nods, "Oh, I shall be sure to do so, dear--with a suitable trade, of course." But Hana's already on top of that! "That's the standard trade," she asides to Miyako. "A rumor for a rumor, though some do it differently."

"I see! You've been at it for quite a while, then. What's the most interesting project you've worked on? Or your favorite."

Swordplay! "Indeed. I was quite into rapiers, in my school years... on and off the stage, as a matter of fact. Though I will admit, something more involved could be appealing, in the right role..." she muses to herself.

She listens to Hana with interest. "Partners of partners... I think I see. I had no idea the distinctions in such an arrangement could become so precise. Fascinating."She cnsiders that a moment longer. "Well, as I said, if I can be of service, I am glad of it."

She smiles to Miyako next. "I think I should like that as well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Miyako doesn't elaborate on that for now. Instead she says, "Good. Then let me know; I'll give you my number, too."

And Hana beams. She knows how it works. Miyako nods along, thoughtful. "These rumors... They can be really strange, can't they?" she asks. "Like the one about this bar." A beat, as she says, "I have. Hmmm... What I really like are the complicated martial arts movies," she says. "They really let you show off your skills."

Rapiers, though... "I see! That's not a skill I have, but I've seen a lot of classic films that employ them."

Hana then nods. "They can. ...we'd like to get to know each other more," she says, sharing a look with Miyako, "But," Hana continues, "We're easing into that a bit, still. So a night like this is good."

Miyako adds, "Then maybe that's what'll happen. ...Hmm."

"If we're going to be here for a bit," Miyako says, "Let me buy you another drink." She lifts her own. "I want to have a good time tonight."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"Certainly." She'll provide hers, as well. "I'm looking forward to it. Thank you for the suggestion and the recommendation."

Full marks for Hana! Remi smiles to Miyato. "They can be quite strange indeed... ''including'' the one about this bar. But that's what makes them so fascinating, don't you think?" Of course, they can do more than just be strange, but Remi's not about to spill that tidbit in mixed company.

"Martial arts films? How interesting! That's never been a hobby I've picked up myself, but I can appreciate the technical skill of it." But rapiers, though. "Indeed. They feature prominently in a lot of the French fiction I read as a child, so that's where I picked up my love of them."

Easting into things. "That would seem a sensible measure," Remi agrees. "At least, from my outside perspective." She lifts her glass for a moment. "Then I'll toast to that."

Speaking of toasts, Miyako makes an offer, and Remi smiles. "Why thank you, darling, I do appreciate it. I'd also like to enjoy myself tonight."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"You're welcome!" says Miyako, whose body language is very friendly with Hana--but not much ''farther'' than friendly, here in this public place. Open way of being, the occasional touch.

"True," Miyako answers, and Hana nods. "They can be really interesting, yes. Of course, we both have reasons to keep track of rumors... but these are a little more fun than the garden variety."

Miyako looks distant for a moment. Then she says instead, "Yes. It's like me and rapiers," she says. "Maybe we could learn from each other sometime." French fiction... "Aaah," she says. "French! I'm no good at it, but it's a romantic language."

And Remi's outside perspective prompts a toast, which lets them all drink--and get refills. Hana smiles. "Indeed."

"It takes somet ime because..." Miyako trails off a moment and then says, "Well, part of how things started with Na-chan is that I was sleeping with her boyfriend," Miyako says quietly to Remi, with a touch of mischief and soem obvious fondness. "He really is very dashing--but we were friends who spent extra time together, so to speak. And then Teruo--that's him--is my girlfriend's ex-..."

"Well." Miyako continues, "Does your romantic life have anything exciting to it, lately?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, for her part, is friendly and interested--though of course she has no reason to be anything else. But she is observing the others' body language discretely with some interest.

Sorry, they've been talking about their relationship, so now she's interested. (She's not leering or anything though.)

Rurmrs! But the less fun kind. Remi nods sympathetically. "Of course, of course. Quite understandable--and I daresay you are quite right."

"An exchange?" Remi brightens. "That is a lovely idea. I must warn, I may be a bit out of practice, but... I ''should'' still remember a trick or two." But she smiles, at the mention of French. "It is a ''beautiful'' language, non? I am half-French, and, well... `French is very dear to my heart.`" That last part is, of course, in French.

Dashing! "So I've heard," Remi says with her own touch of mischief. "Though sadly I am given to understand he does not have a brother." There is an overly dramatic--and entirely unserious--sigh to that. But her eyebrows lift a little. "Oh, I see--that is quite an interesting confluence of circumstances..."

Remi sighs and shakes her head. "Sadly, not as of late... I am rather embarrassed to admit the last relationship I had was in high school..." She can't help but grin a little. "... though it was ''very'' exciting."

She sobers again as she takes a long sip of her drink. "But recently there hasn't been much... though... I've been giving some thought to trying again, but I'm a bit at a loss for where to start. Or even 'how'."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Mm."

Hana smiles to see Miyako and Remi gettinga long, as Miyako sighs about the French. "I see! So your hair is natural, then?" she prompts. But Hana laughs a little at the matter of him not having a brother. "Afraid not," she confirms. But indeed, those were the circumstances. Miyako continues, "How that came to be is a story for another time, but casual encounters weren't unusual for us--we just... became rather more than casual, together, as a whole, as we found ourselves more compatible than we imagined."

But Remi sighs, and Hana gives her as ympathetic look--and a little laugh about high school. "My."

Miyako hmms. "Oh?" she asks. "Well, i happen to know someone who runs mixers every so often in Shinjuku--depending on your tastes, I could set you up with men or women. 'Both' is a little taller an order, though."

Hana nods along, "I'd be happy to facilitate. That's pretty much the best way--just to get out there, and start."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"Oui," Remi replies about her hair with a smile, and then nods. "Yes. I ''am'' rather fond of it.. I suppose I could dye it, but... I've never felt the desire to. But I am fluent in both Japanese and French... and English, as it happens."

Casual counters that turned into something more. "I see... how interesting. And that you should then find such campatability amongst yourselves..."

Remi smiles at Hana. "I believe you know of whom I'm thinking... though perhaps Akimoto-san might enjoy the tale?"

"A mixer... yes, I do believe that would be just the thing..." But her tastes? "... as it happens, my tastes are rather... flexible." Remi there's a word for that you don't have to be poetic about ''everything''.

"Thank you, Hana-chan, I'd be glad for any assistance either of you would care to offer."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Three languages! You'd get along with Sa-chan." She doesn't elaborate on that for now--it can wait for later. Instead...

"We just thought..." Miyako looks to Hana, who continues, "It would be nice to know each other as well as each of us do the others." Miyako watches Hana a few more oments, and then hana says, "I think she might!"

"I like romance," Miyako allows after a moment. But she adds, "Then I'll get you the info for two of them. Now, you're unlikely to meet the love of your life here, but it should get you back into things. ...I'm the same way," Miyako says quietly to Remi, "On 'flexible'. Maybe one day I can be more out about it, but... Not just yet."

Hana looks encouragingly at Miyako--and then turns her head back to Remi. "Sure," she says. "There's also just going to bars and clubs, of course; I met Teruo at a gay bar. But this is a little more... focused."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Hana can at least guess who Sa-chan is, as in being a part of the polycule. "Would I now? I'd be delighted to meet them, then." Later, of course.

She nods, as Hana explains they wanted to get to know each other. "That makes sense, then... I suppose these things take time to develop."

Remi smiles to Miyako. "I was in Drama Club, you see. And for my last year I wanted to do something memorable, so I pushed for us to perform Romeo and Juliet... And I took the leading role of Romeo." There is a small, very satisfied smile at the memory. "... and let us just say, I and my Juliet had ''excellent'' chemistry."

"That's fine, I understand. I am not presently looking for some deep, grand commitment... just, perhaps, a bit of companionship." Remi nods quietly. "I understand. It is a very small numver of people I have admitted it to, myself."

"I see... I don't believe I have been to a club before... and in any case, I wouldn't know which ones might... cater to those tastes." She nods. "... focused would be good, I think."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"She's great," Miyako says. "You'll definitely like her." Hana smiles. And then, Remi hears her explanation, and Hana nods. "I have... a bit of a history with women,"Hana admits, and it's Miyako's turn to look sympathetic. "Things can be different now," she encourages her, placing a hand on her forearm for a few moments. As it happens, Miyako's nails are shorter than Hana's. Remi might or might not notice.

But Remi explains! "Ahhh," Miyako answers. "I think I might have more fun being a Romeo than a Juliet too," she says. "I usually dress a lot more casually than this."

"But you look incredible," Hana points out.

"...Might be a reason I went for it, tonight," Miyako answers.

"But I believe you," Miyako says. "That sounds like a lot of fun."

And what they're looking for... "That's pretty likely then," Miyako assures Remi. "And... Yes. Na-chan's out to almost everyone, but..."

"It's different for me," Hana says. Then she considers. "Haven't been, mm? Well, let's start you with the mixer, but..."

Miyako chimes in, "I'll take you sometime. Shinjuku ni-chome has a lot of the places that cater to people like us. ...Which includes hotels that won't look askance at women couples, if you happen to meet someone you like."

"Though you ''might'' find romance," Hana admits. "After all, the reason Teruo and I got together is he insisted on a proper date instead of just another hookup. ...So keep an open mind, hm?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi smiles, "Then I shall look forward to it, someday." But Hana has a history... "Oh?" She's open to hearing more, but she won't pres--she's not sure how sensitive this could be.

She does notice, as it happens. Her own nails are also kept short, though for tonight they're painted a dark green. (They match the flecks of green in her brown eyes.)

"I had ''great'' fun playing Romeo," Remi admits. "Though for the right Romeo, I wouldn't mind playing a Juliet, either... Of course, most time the Juliets don't get to do swordfights..."

It's different for Hana. "Understandably. I... do not regret dating my Juliet, but we took great pains not to be found out. we both had our families to think about, after all."

"I'm afraid not." She ''has'' been to a bar though--she's in one right now! She smiles to Miyako. "Shinjuku ni-chome... I'll look forward to it."

"I am certainly not opposed to a romance, or even the idea of a proper date or three. But for now, I'd just like to dip my toes back in the water and see where that leads me."

"But..." Remi lifts her glass once more. "I look forward to... mmm. New beginnings?"
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-20: Style

2026-10-21T03:38:21Z

Talnora: Sweaters are very important.

*'''Log: Style'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Central Street - Main
*'''OOC Date:''' October 20, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Sunday, January 27, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Ririka and Ichika both happen to be in Tokyo, so they meet up for dinner. They both have good news, and they talk fashion, college, dating, and more.''

----

(|========================== Central Street - Main ===========================|)
-====================================================== Tokyo/Shibuya Ward ====-
Chances are, if you're a fan of a youth trend in Tokyo, it started here. Less
than a five minute walk from Shibuya Station, Central Street is lined with
businesses that cater to youth culture. Boutiques and media stores are just as
common as cafes and fast food. Arcades display the cabinets and claw games with
the latest merch, while back alley shops serve more merchandise for more niche
interests, such as military otaku looking for realistic-looking model guns at
Untouchable.

Drug stores, convenience stores, book stores, discount stores, video rental
stores? You name it, they got it. Sports gyms, karaoke bars, movie theatres,
diners? Yup. The local Big Bang Burger stands out most of all with its flashy
space-themed pneumonic entrance.

While it has a reputation as a safe neighborhood for both tourists and locals in
order to preserve its image as 'for the youth,' darker elements have started to
creep in from back alley folks that try to offer school kids opportunities for a
quick buck or job opportunities for tourists who find their passport stolen in
short order. Or so the rumor goes.

Still, rumors are just rumors, aren't they? There's no reason to hold back, so
come on in, enjoy yourselves.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's a brisk Sunday afternoon in Tokyo. Ririka's been making more trips to Tokyo recently, though ''today'' it wasn't specifically to meet Ikumi. (Though that ''does'' happen fairly frequently.) no, today she's here for an altogether different purpose... two purposes, in fact.

The second one of those is to meet her sister, who is here to see her boyfriend. And the first, well... Ichika will see it, when she steps in.

Ririka's seated at a table, her winter jacket hung up, dressed in cargo pants, a black band tee, and a dark purple flannel. She's drumming her fingers on the table, humming to herself as she scrolls through her phone... but she also keeps reaching up to fuss with her hair.

For the longest time she wore it in a long, straight style, but now... it's a lot shorter. It's done up in a sort of bob, but the left side is tucked behind her ear, and the right side is framing her face, tousled up with some product.

It's a marked change, but Ririka is trying not to grin like an idiot as she keeps fidgeting with it and waiting.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Late afternoon almost into evening, specifically--Ichika's already been in Tokyo for a bit, meeting up with Ryuji and someone else for a purpose. Now, she's swinging by Shibuya to meet up with her sister!

Ichika is in a rather more feminine outfit, layered tanktop over a longer-sleeve shirt and a short skirt to go with it. Her heeled boots clack against the floor lightly as she walks in and--

Ichika's eyes light up a bit when she spots her sister.

"Ririka-chan," she says when she gets close, sliding into the other side of the booth. "Great hair. Decided to go for it?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka looks up when she hears the clack of Ichika's boots, and can't help but break into a grin. "Nee-chan!" She just nods for a moment to answer the question, then follows it up with an excited, "Yep! And--thanks! I'm..." She runs her fingers through her hair. "''Really'' excited for it. Feels kind of weird, though--my head feels ''way'' lighter--and like, there's a breeze on my neck now? But-- I'm excited for the new hair!"

She ''can'' dress more femininely, but... sometimes (often) chooses not to.

She turns her head this way and that, to show off both sides. "But, I'm really happy with how this came out."

"So, how're you? How's Sakamoto-san doing?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"It's super different when it's short, right?" Ichika confirms, because she used to have super long hair herself and cut it a while back. ...It's getting longer again.

"It looks great, though. A+ work."

She smiles. Ichika, for her part, is usually either dressed feminine or to bust heads... or both. Both is an option.

"Nice, nice."

"I'm good! He's good, too--we were working on a project of his." She doesn't elaborate. "In fact... I'm ''super'' good. Let's order, and i'll tell you what's up."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's super different. "Right?" Ririka says with a laugh. "Like, I keep turning my head to feel how the hair moves now, but... I guess I'll just have to get used to it."

A+!! "Thanks! Oh, and, so I can wear it kinda normal, right?" She demonstrates untucking the left side so it looks like a normalish bob. "Oorr, if I really wanna... you know."

She gathers up both sides of the bob to the top of her head like she was making a ponytail--and on the right side (the side that was framing her face before), is an undercut that would normally stay hidden.

Ririka turns her head so Ichika can see it clearly. "But I can just do this--" She puts her hair back the way she had it before. "--for school."

It's kind of cool that Ichika can do both.

But Ryuji is good. "Good!" But-- "Oh? ''Super'' good, huh? I can't wait to hear about this, then."

Ririka, for her part, orders the Nostalgic Steak and the Frui-Tea.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Right."

Ichika watches for a few more moments and then--

"Somebody's embracing her wild side a little, I see. It works for you, both ways."

Ichika totally sees it. And it's a bold move. Ichika then leans back, after ordering coffee and ''also'' a nostalgic steak.

"So..." Once they have their food and drinks--

"I got in! I'm going to PIC!" Pleione International College, that is, in Sumaru City.

Ichika is pretty hype about this.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Well, you know, I haven't really changed my hair in for--forever, so I figured, if I was gonna make a change, I might as well... experiment." But it works both ways. "Thanks!"

It ''is'' a bold move--though she also gave herself some cover, too, but... baby steps.

Ririka gasps in delight. "Oh my god, Neechan! That's ''huge''!" She gets up and comes around to give Ichika an excited hug. "Congrats!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Good thinking. Experimenting's fun. Besides, it grows back."

Then, well--baby steps is right, but Ichika accepts the hug! "Thanks!" Ichika answers, and her smile is wide enough to look almost incongruous with her dark makeup. She picks up her cup of coffee and lifts it up. "So that's my plan. I'll still be in Sumaru for a good while, it looks like..."

"I'll go back home for a little while, but I'm gonna focus on getting an apartment in Sumaru. I've had enough of dorms anyway."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah! I ''was'' thinking of dying it somehow, but... ehhh... Gekkokan probably wouldn't like that, so."

She giggles a little at the mention of it growing back. "That's true!"

She sits back down after the hug, and the smile may be incongruous, but Ririka is happy to see her sister so happy. She lifts her own cup of tea. "So, I'll still have reasons to keep visiting Sumaru, then." That and her girlfriend, of course.

"Cool. I'm looking forward to seeing your new apartment, when it happens. Do Mom and Dad know about you being accepted yet?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Probably not," Ichika agrees.

"Totally," she answers on Sumaru too, drinking some coffee and setting it back down. Her body language remains open, her hand moving a lot as she speaks--the one not holding the coffee.

"I'm going to talk to Tsubasa and see if we can arrange something," she says. "And yeah, totally--I already told them both. It's going to be good, I think!"

"Maybe I'll even learn some languages. Even I can do it if I'm around people speaking them all the time."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Someday, Ririka will dye her hair. But anything permanent might have to wait for her own graduation.

Ririka is leaning forward, engaged in what Ichika is saying. (And also still futzing with her hair in between bites of food.)

"Oh yeah, Seki-san is graduating, too... Where're they aiming for? PIC, too?" that might be convenient, so they can both attend together. But the parents know. "Cool!"

"Oh yeah? You got a language in mind yet?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ironically, ichika might be the one to dye ''her'' hair back to its natural color, for her new school. It's not really a requirement, but it is a different environment.

"We're going together, yeah," Ichika confirms too. Tsubasa could have made an even better school, probably--but not with their mom abducted just that day...

"Haha, nope. But foreign guys are cute, right? It might be fun." She winks.

"...Kidding. Looking's free, but i'm happy with who I've got."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
That would be a change--though of course, Ririka's known Ichika without bleached hair before, but... it's been a while, hasn't it?

"Cool. Do you know what they want to study?" Ririka considers a moment, and her enthusiasm dims for a moment. "... and how are they holding up?"

She hasn't had a chance to see Tsubasa since that day.

Ririka laughs. "Ehhh, I'm more into the foreign girls," she says with a grin. It's nice to be able to say that now.

She nods. "Right, right, that makes sense." Ririka does seem pretty happy with her current partners. "Though... I've been doing some thinking on that..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It has!

"We've talked about it, but I don't know like, the exact major they're settling on or anything. Smart people stuff, though." At least Ichika no longer divides herself quite as ''strongly'' from 'smart people' as she used to, but she still doesn't think of herself as one of them.

"They're... Well, it's pretty rough. But I'm doing my best to support them."

"Haha, yeah, you would be. But I can look at them, too."

She smiles. "Have you?" Ichika asks then. "Want to tell me about it?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka, by contrast, still thinks of Toshiaki as 'the smart one', even if she's confident in her specific area of expertise. "Hey, you got in, too" is her quiet attempt at encouragement.

But Tsubasa... Ririka nods slowly. "Yeah, I bet... Um, lemme know, if there's anything I can do to help, okay?" She still feels bad for being unable to prevent Tsubasa's mother from being taken, even if there'd been another mess impeding things.

"Cool." Ririka shrugs a little. "Oh, just... I figured out a while ago I was attracted to girls, right? But, like... Ogawa-senpai, you know, was kind of hot that one time? Kashihara-san's kind of pretty too... for a guy, I mean. So, I dunno. Maybe my definition of 'girl' is more flexible than I thought it was, if that makes sense? Not that I'm calling them--but you know what I mean?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"I sure did. I don't have to be like you or him," Toshiaki. "...If I work hard, I can get it done." She smiles at that one. "...Not that you don't work hard, too," she says. "You always have."

But if she can help... Ichika nods. "I'll let you know," she says. "But knowing you're doing OK helps me not have to worry, too."

There have been other messes, but...

"Right," Ichika says. "...Hmm. Yeah. I used to think gender was this hard thing, a total barrier. But it's not that simple."

"I get you. You're not calling them girls, but you're finding your attraction blurs a little. And like..."

"OK. You might not know for sure until you get 'together' together with somebody. Like, Sei-kun's... really good," she settles on. "And he's definitely a guy. He's just a really ''pretty'' guy."

"But I know what you mean, anyway? Like..."

"I've been a little curious about how flexible my 'boundaries' are, too."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"You sure can," Ririka reaffirms. She laughs lightly and blushes. "Yeah, well..." She works a little too hard, sometimes. But she's working on it.

But for the moment, she ''is'' doing okay. She nods. "One less thing to worry about then... that works, I guess."

"Yeah... it's really not, huh?" She looks down at herself. "I mean, I still feel comfortable as a girl, but i like mixing thing up, too..." And then there's people like Tsubasa and Yuusei.

"Yeah, exactly--" Ichika gets it. "Like, I'm definitely not Kashihara-kun's type, and I don't think Ogawa-senpai is, when he's not 'dressed up'? But..." Ririka considers. "Maybe if he was inclined to be dressed up all the time, that might be different? Or... I dunno. Maybe it's a vibes thing."

But Ichika is ''also'' curious. "Oh yeah? I remember we were talking about, like, labels and stuff, but you're also considering that, too?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika smiles back, sipping her coffee. "Yes."

But gender, "Oh, me too--I'm totally comfortable as I am. I like it, even. ...But I think I appreciate knowing that i could do differently if I wanted to."

But Ichika does get it! "Definitely not," she agrees, without commenting in public on what Jun's type actually ''is''. "Hmm. Nah, he wouldn't want to do all one or the other, I think." Yuusei, that is. "But that makes sense. 'Vibes'. People have those. Like... How Tsubasa's pretty 'guy' despite really being 'neither'. I don't want them to be one or the other, but it was easier for me to start with because they're ''not'' a girl."

"...But yeah, I kind of am. I wouldn't have thought of it before, but now that I have..."

"Well, doesn't matter in ''practical'' terms right now, but I guess I'm looking more."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"It works for you," Ririka says with a smile. "Though... now that I've changed up the hair... I ''am'' thinking about switching up my wardrobe a little bit... But I'm not sure how, yet."

"Mmm... yeah. That might not be a dealbreaker? But I'm honestly not sure..." She nods. "Yeah, that makes sense.Like... I think if I met someone who was 'neither' but their vibe was more 'girl' that might work for me?" Ririka shrugs a little. "But I haven't met anyone like that yet, so."

"Cool. Well, if you ever figure out anything more on that, I'll be curious to find out. Oh yeah--did you ever settle on a label?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks." Switching up her wardrobe, hm? "I'm always down for a shopping trip," Ichika says. "What're you thinking? Vague ideas are OK."

Then, "You never really know until you try it, I think--and this time I ''don't'' mean 'it'. I just mean... getting to know somebody. Seeing how you feel around them."

"There's definitely people like that," she says. "I just... well, you know me, I used to not get along with girls that well."

But if she figures it out... Ichika nods. "Totally, I'll talk about it with you. And you know? I didn't. Not yet, anyway. Maybe I'll figure it out at school. Gonna be meeting a lot of different people..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka smiles. "Cool. I'll take you up on that." She shrugs a little. "I dunno... maybe something that leans more feminine but that doesn't get rid of my style?" She shrugs a little. "Whatever that might be."

"Nah, I gotcha. Yeah..." She considers. "Right now I'm happy with Ikumi-chan, and I don't think I have the time to date someone else? But... maybe if it comes up in the future."

"I know," Ririka says playfully. "I was one of them." But that was probably for other reasons, and... they're getting along better now anyway.

"Cool, same here--and yeah! That's true. You could meet people who have different views on all of this stuff."

What else... "Oh, yeah, I've come out to a few people recently. My band, some of my friends in the dorm... Suzuki-kun."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Hmmm... I'm good at feminine," she says. "So I can help there, since you can tell me what your style is while we're out looking at stuff."

But, "Cool. ...Yeah, i hope that's going well for both of you. She seems pretty happy at the dorms, anyway." Since that's where Ichika primarily knows her from.

And, "Sure could. It'd be interesting to find out."

But? "Oooh. How's that working out for you? I mean, you don't sound upset or anything, so..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Sure. I guess..." Ririka considers, then gestures at herself. "Maybe I just need to wear skirts with this or something," she says with a shrug. "I can't really wear my stage look off the stage, though..."

"I think so! We're both just... kind of figuring things out together, you know? She has like, more recent dating experience, but I've been thinking about things longer, so it kind of balances out? But... yeah." Ririka smiles, and there's a hint of a flush. "... it's going ''really'' well."

"It's going pretty well! But I started with the people I was closest to, so... I was still nervous, but I was ''pretty'' sure it'd work out... it's a load off, not having to hide that part of myself. And Fuuka-chan even wants to meet Ikumi-chan, so I'm looking forward to that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Experiment a little. Worst case, you look silly for a day. If you're confident enough, you can pull it off even if you do."

Stage looks...

"That's good," Ichika says. "'Together' is good. ...I'm a little worried I've figured out everything ''for'' Ryuji-kun and he doesn't have much room to find it himself..." She lets that slip, and then, "But good. I'm glad it's going well."

But then, "Hmm... yeah. it's good, being able to be yourself." Fuuka-chan! "Cool. Your friends showing interest in your partner... that's a good thing."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Maybe I'll do that..." Ririka considers. "Wonder if the flannel shirt works with a skirt," she muses to herself. IT's nice to have the extra warmth, in the winter. "It's hard to get too crazy with the dress code at school, though..."

Ririka did say she was worried about pushing Ikumi faster than she was ready for, but... Ikumi also knows how to speak up for herself, so that's fine. "Oh, dang, you think so? Did... he do a lot of dating before meeting you? Have you talked to him about it?"

Ririka smiles. "YEah... I might try to bring her by band practice sometime, too..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"It can," Ichika says. "But you gotta branch out a bit, too--flannel's not always the answer." She's tasing a little, but only a little. "True though. At at a school like that there's not a lot of room to be different in how you look."

"No," she says, "I'm his first. ...So, you know, it might be something to that. I'm going to talk to him about it, though, yeah."

Ichika nods. "Cool. Hope it goes well!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Hey, I only wear them this much in the winter. In case you haven't noticed, it's a little chilly out," she teases back. "... Okay sometimes I wear them while skateboarding, too, but they fit that look. And I like the layering." She thinks on that. "... maybe I should figure out a different layer... Any thoughts?"

"Ahhh, gotcha... I guess everyone has to start somewhere. But you must really like him, if you were willing to wait.", so... hopefully talking it out will work."

"Thanks." Ririka considers for a moment. "We should do something to celebrate you getting into college. Let me treat you to... I dunno. A spa or karaoke or something?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"A little," Ichika allows, though that didn't stop her having a thigh window between her stockings and her skirt today. It usually doesn't. "Layering is good. But there's tanktops, sweaters--sweaters are great if you want your boobs to look fantastic and get the right ones--shirts over other shirts... Lots of options. Even before you get into the mesh."

But everyone does have to start. "I was," Ichika says, "So... yeah. Hopefully!"

Then, Ichika amiles. "Sure. I love spas and stuff, so no complaints from me."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
That's true. Ririka will ahve to ask Ichika how she does it. Then again, she does okay in the cold, too... "Well... sweaters aren't exactly rock and roll, but... it ''would'' be nice to look nice for Ikumi-chan..." She almost manages to say that without blushing.

"Good luck!"

Ririka smiles. "Cool. Then, we'll work out a date. Anything you want to do."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Put a skull on it," Ichika suggests. "Wear some spikes. Or go minimalist, black sweater black skirt. Rock and roll's an attitude more than a dress code, right?"

She grins. "And it's ''great'' when you can get your partnr to look at you, totally."

"Sounds great. For now..."

"Let's eat."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-19: Misunderstandings

2026-10-20T04:31:57Z

Talnora: Alternate title: Keeping Secrets.

*'''Log: Misunderstandings'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Ryuji Sakamoto]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Kazusa's Studio
*'''OOC Date:''' October 19, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Sunday, January 27, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa and Ryuji struck up a deal to collaborate on his food vlog. Kazusa invited Ryuji over to her studio so they could discuss cameras and other things. Except... KAzusa forgot to mention her studio was also a studio apartment. And that may not be the only misunderstanding at play. Thankfully, Ryuji brought his girlfriend along, and that that will definitely make the situation much clearer.''

----

(|============================= Kazusa's Studio ==============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
Kazusa's studio is on the fifth floor and tucked into a corner at the end of a
long hallway. It is a single room, long and skinny. Immediately by the door is a
patch of unfinished concrete that serves as the studio's genkan, or entrance
room, along with a few pairs of slippers for guests to use. Past that the floor
is finished concrete, while overhead silver ducts and wiring conduits are
plainly visible, along with a skylight.

Down the left side of the room are a closet, bathroom, and then a kitchenette.
By the kitchenette is a large window on the far wall and a round wooden table.
Tucked in the opposite corner is a folding table with ikebana and calligraphy
supplies. Along the right wall is another large window, and in the last corner
is a loft. There's no bed there (notably, there is also no couch), just stacks
of cardboard boxes. Underneath the loft, however, is Kazusa's studio.

Tucked into the corner is a large, sturdy c-shaped desk made of heavy, polished
wood, with a high-end office chair in the middle. In the center are two flat
panel monitors, with a plush rabbit and stuffed owl sitting between them. The
wall above the monitor has several shelves filled with anime figurines and
various tchotchkes.

The right arm of the desk is left open for working with physical media with a
lamp and various drawing supplies lined up against the wall. Above this is a
corkboard with a cluster of various references and mood images pinned to it. On
the left arm of the desk sits a large Quintic tablet resting in a sturdy metal
frame, with a stylus standing in a base and a half-glove, a smear guard, resting
beside it.

While the shelves over the desk are new, beside the desk are several bookshelves
made of older, industrial-looking metal. One is filled with all kinds of printed
media: magazines and reference books covering things like fashion, historical
clothing, anime, manga, and video games, as well as magazines like Coolest and
several sets of manga stacked high. The other has some more manga, but is also
packed full with various anime and movie DVDs, music CDs, and a substantial game
collection. All of it seemingly kept here to keep it away from prying eyes, with
several collector's boxes proudly displayed (including a few Night Parade ones.)

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa might actually be in something of a good mood for once. Or at least, as close to one as she ever gets. The Homunculus is defeated, she had a nice overnight trip away from Tokyo with a friend, and she was about to exercise her artistic ambitions, even if her collaborator was, perhaps, a very unlikely one.

She's seated at her C-shaped desk, with several spec sheets open on one monitor side by side with a list on the other monitor. She's dressed very unlike how she ever dresses at school or while out, in a large, oversized pink hoodie, purple joggers, her hair up in a bun with a couple of pencils, and a pair of glasses.

(They're blue light glasses. She only wears them for the look.)

... She might have forgotten to clarify with Ryuji that her 'studio' was also a studio apartment, but that this ''definitely'' doesn't count as 'inviting him over to her place' despite what it looks like on a map.

It's probably fine. She said studio, that should clarify everything.

The apartment building itself is off the main strip of Akiba, though it's only a short walk to get there. It used to be an old warehouse, made of concrete, since converted to studio apartments. And Kazusa's studio is on the top floor.

Kazusa hums along with some pop music playing at a low volume as she moves another item to the list. When she hears the doorbell shell call out, "Just a moment!" and go to answer the door.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji is indeed a little wide eyed when he arrives at an apartment building. He was expecting a tastful art installation like K*nami or N**tendo NOT A MODERN THINKING RECLAIMED DWELLING. Oh man. It is good that he brought you know who. Now things can't go wrong. He smiles at his thoughts, nodding as everything is going to be ok.

Dressed in a t-shirt, vest, and comfortable pants, He presses the buzz after climbing the stairs. During his ascent, he was thinking about how it is very strange that Kazusa isn't getting the hint. He thought he was clear with her and while he should've cut her off, he needed the help and being her friend wasn't the end of the world. In a lot of ways, he felt sorry for her. But life isn't Romeo and Juliet. Sometimes your worlds are too different.

He blinks as he realizes he's been zoning out. "Sorry hun...I just had a little...what were you saying?" Ryuji doesn't do this often but man thinking about another girl. Especially one he didn't feel anything beyond friendship for....He felt guilty kinda.

"Look, I didn't know it was her studio Apartment...Maybe it's good you came with." Ryuji is gonna just play this safe. He reaches for the buzzer and presses down, suddenly wondering if this is going to go bad. He has a few drops of perspiration on his forehead as he considers the worst outcome. Oh no. Ichika could get into trouble since isn't Kazusa the heiress of one of those video game companies? Like was it one of those Eroge companies or something like N**Tendo? Ryuji feels himself worry more as he waits for the door to open. He needs to make it clear.

"Uh, hey Kazusa...This is Ichika, the woman in my life. She is important so like please keep it professional and know that my eyes are completely on your hair...which is nice by the way...But hey wait I"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Things totally can't go wrong. It's in someone's contract. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Ichika Kawase didn't read it.

ichika's in twin shirts--one a tanktop, one long-sleeved--in green and gray, and a short black skirt with thigh-highs and boots. It's normal clothes for her, but between the cleavage and the spiked accessories she ''definitely'' stands out.

...it's kind of hard for her ''not'' to stand out, with her bleached hair, among other things. Either way, it's definitely not an oversized hoodie.

"Huh," Ichika says when she sees that it is ''apartments''. During the ascent... Hmmm.

"..." Ichika ''had'' been talking about the newspaper at her school--she's a little annoyed that Ryuji was zoned out. And then--

"Yeah, probably," Ichika agrees about it being good. "I'm not really into you going to some other girl's apartment when it's like that..."

But as the door opens--

"...?" Ichika says, looking to Ryuji. He protests a little too much. "...you do have nice hair," Ichika agrees dubiously. She ''towers'', though; a little over 170cm, Ichika is ''very'' tall for a girl, and she happens to be turning all her sukeban scrutiny on Kazusa.

"Hey. I'm Ichika Kawase. I hear you're doing some editing. ..Sounds cool."

She doesn't blink.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa would love a proper art studio. But this was the most discrete setup her and her grandparents could arrange.

... But yes. Definitely nothing can go wrong, especially when Ryuji is so certain there are hints not being got.

Ignore the senation of impending dread.

Motojima Corporation, as it happens, is a consumer electronics company that sells lots of things, including video games. (But not, directly, eroge content.)

Kazusa opens the door, and starts to say something but stops when she sees ''someone else'' and just kind of freezes up as her eyes track up towards Ichika's face.

''... why is she so'' tall''?''

She might be staring for slightly longer than is necessary, but she's also just trying to process what the heck is going on.

Kazusa might not be a sukeban herself, but she at ''least'' has 'corporate heiress' energy. She turns her attention back to Sakamoto, hissing angrily between clenched teeth. "''Sakamoto''! What the ''hell'' do you think you're doing!? I told you, ''nobody else can know about this''. That was my first condition!"

It's then that her brain catches up to processing what Ryuji's said. 'Please keep it professional.' Her cheeks flush and her fists clench. "I don't know what ''you'' thought was going on here but ''I'm'' just here to discuss video editing! So stop rubbing your stupidly tall girlfriend in my face!"

She presses her palm of her hand to her forehead, trying to stave off the inevitable migraine. "Ugggh. Just--" She backs up from the door so the other two can enter. "Come in before the whole apartment building hears us."

She crosses her arms, looking at Ichika. "... Kazusa Motojima. Yes, ''that'' Motojima." She turns to glare at Ryuji. "You'd better have a good explanation for this."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"What is going on here? You said Studio so I assumed one of those places with the room where you lay down a track and I bust out the rhymes. Not studio apartment! It's on you to be clear!" Ryuji is doing his best because he feels the chill down his spine.

Man is he going to get it and it wasn't his fault. He's seen anime! Studio doesn't mean apartment like ever! "Plus she doesn't go to our school so outside of your social universe. Also if she found out I went here she'd kill us both, which I think is still on the table."

Ryuji looks over to Ichika and tries to cut in between his video editor and his very scary (which was hot) girlfriend. "Hi honey...I would like to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she meant Studio Apartment. Ha Ha...yeah so lets not kill each other and calm down."

But then something catches Ryuji. He turns his head and looks at Kazusa with a raised brow. "Hmmm what do you mean 'rubbing it in your face'?" Does he knooooow? Has he figured out all of this is misunderstanding for one reason. "heh, she is tall, huh? One of the things I love about her."

Nope.

Ryuji follows people inside, feeling the chill in the room almost immediately. "How about I go make some tea?" Ryuji offers someone else's tea and refreshments because he desperately wants to avoid the carnage.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika's eyes stay down on ''Kazusa's'' face. She does notice the stare, but that doens't necessarily mean much to her. Unfortunately, corporate heiress energy doesn't impress Ichika much. She just lifts an eyebrow at her response. "What's with the secrecy?" zhe asks. "You invite my boyfriend to your apartment and you're damned right I'm going to want to know what's going on."

Don't kill them? "I'm not going to hurt you, Ryuji," she says, which notably is not a 'them'. But the benefit of the doubt...

"Sure," Ichika says. "I mean, it's not like she's dressed to seduce."

"..."

"Yeah, i'm pretty tall," she says. "But ''you're'' the one shouting and making a scene."

She acepts the invitation inside, but then on the way asks, "What does your family have to do with it, anyway? Am I supposed to be impressed?"

"...If you want to impress me, you should show me the video editing. Ryuji-kun works hard on his reviews."

But she contemplates that. Rubbing his girlfriend in her face...?

Ichika looks around the studio.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Lay down a track and bust a rhyme? Kazusa stares at Ryuji like he just grew a second and third head. "I'm not a musician!" she snaps. She pinches the bridge of her nose. "I ''was'' clear!" She hadn't been. "I said studio. ''This'' is my studio." She gestures over to her desk setup tucked under the loft. "See? That's my studio setup right there. My computer and my drawing tablet and everything."

"We picked a studio apartment as-- as-- as camouflage! So my father wouldn't find out!" Not that it helped, in the long run.

Say, wasn't there some hay about this girl being caught in cosplay and chewed out by her father in public at a convention? Ryuji could have heard the rumors, but Tsubasa was actually there.

"The ''secrecy''," she explains (angrily) to to Ichika, "is because there's people I can't afford to find out my art. I invited my ''client'' to a ''studio''. I don't even live here!"

There is a long, silent glare as Ryuji raises the point that Ichika is outside of their social universe. She snorts angrily and looks away. "Fine. You have ''one'' point in your favor." She looks at Ichika and frowns. "Where ''do'' you go, anyway?"

"What do I mean?" she turns her attention back to Ryuji, still scowling. "I just happen to run into you in Akiba, and when I try to apologize for blowing up at you at the movie theater you cut me off to say you have a girlfriend. I arrange a ''meeting'' in my ''studio'' and you bring ''her'' along. I'm not interested in you. I'm never going to ''be'' interested in you. All I want is to edit your videos and build up my portfolio. That's ''it''."

'I mean, it's not like she's dressed to seduce.'

Kazusa turns bright red, and she can feel the headache throbbing."I'm not interested in seducing your boyfriend or any other stupid boy. There's not even a bed or a couch here! Augh!" She turns and stomps over to her desk, leaning against it and taking in several deep breaths to try and calm down.

Ryuji offers someone else's tea, but oddly Kazusa... doesn't seem to mind. Without looking she gestures towards the kitchenette. "Electric kettle on the bottom, tea bags and cups on top. Don't touch the ''sado'' stuff, that belongs to someone else." She means the tea ceremony implements.

"My family has ''everything'' to do with it," she says sullenly. "It's just--ugh. If you want to see video editing, fine." She sits down in her chair, and quickly pulls up a video editing program. She turns up the speakers and turns the monitor outwards so it can be watched without having to cram into the middle of the desk configuration with her.

What follows is a little bit nicer version of what she did in the ramen shop on her laptop: it's basically a reedited version of one of his episodes, still using the same footage (which she can only do so much with), but now it has a title card with custom art, a star wipe into the video, some royalty free music, and a star wipe into a simple credits page, with some more custom art.

She crosses her arms as the video plays. She's still learning, but the right equipment goes a long way.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji cringes as Kazusa rightly lays into him. He stares at her with a vacant expression as she pretty much says she's not into boys. Does that mean he's a rather feminine boy? Dude. The blonde's jaw drops and he just hugs himself in deep thought. Could that be like Ichika was into him? It's true he isn't hairy and manly but dude.

No. Focus on the tea. The tea is safe. The tea is being made exactly as instructed. He just turns on the kettle after adding water, staring at the heating element to avoid leaving the safety of tea making. This was going so badly, Ryuji thinks to himself as he finds himself continuing to cringe as each moment ticks down to disaster.

Ryuji turns to grin at Ichika. "See! She does a good job. I think this all is a big misunderstanding. Heh. Heh." He has that smile on his face when he is walking on metaphorical eggshells. When he knows he's in trouble. Man, where was Tsubasa when you needed them? They would've seen this coming a mile away.

Ryuji leans out of the kitchen. "Does anyone have a preference or do we just want me to bring the bags I see here." He then remember the cold air outside the warm safety of the kitchen, feeling his smile strain. "You know, I'll bring the bags. Give you two some space."

Ryuji blinks when she mentions there is no bed. "That hasn't stopped---you know nevermind!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, your studio that's also an apartment," Ichika says, frowning as Kazusa lays into Ryuji, even as he backs off. "...But that makes sense. I'm not gonna tell your dad, though. I'm not a cop or something." This seems obvious enough to ''her'', anyway. "I'm not one of those people, so it's fine."

One point? "I'm a third year at Kasugayama, in Sumaru."

Tea!!

Not interested in boyfriends or stupid boys...

Hmmm. Ichika tilts her head, watching Kazusa.

"I mean, a girl who knows what she's doing can seduce just fine in something comfy," she allows. "But sure, sure. You're not into my boyfriend. I believe you."

"I'll take some sugar," she says to Ryuji, and actually does mean sugar. She then walks over to the video editing, and considers. Hmm...

"Yeah, you're good," Ichika says. "Cool."

She starts to say something else--and then Ryuji comments on the lack of bed. She ''laughs'' at that one.

"Ok, that's true," she says. "But seriously, it does seem like a misunderstanding..."

Pause. "But there's a different misundderstanding going on here, too."

"...You've both got things to win on in this arrangement. That's good. I entirely believe that you're not out to steal Ryuji-kun or something, and that you just want to build your portfolio. ''But''."

Ichika speaks gently as she lifts her hands snd presses her short-nailed fingers together, index and thumb both.

"But if you keep talking to your busines partner--to him--like that, then this arrangement is going to be over, and ''you'' are going to be shoved face-first into your trash can."

"Do we understand each other?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
No, Ryuji. That's not what Kazusa isa saying at all. (Well, part of it sort of is but the conclusion is so far from anything Kazusa meant, she legitimately would not know how to respond to it.)

"Kasugayama..." Kazusa stares at Ichika for a moment. "wait--isn't that the--the reform school? How... you know what, nevermind. I don't want to know."

"''Stop talking about seducing''. Because I ''don't''--" This time she catches herself and cuts herself off.

Ryuji asks about the tea bags, and Kazusa reaches over to lift up a can from her desk. "I have a canned coffee. But you two knock yourselves out."

There is a sharp glare at Ryuji as he comments on the lack of beds. Or at least starts to.

She gives a sullen nod as Ichika and Ryukii both compliment her skills. "Thanks." A misunderstanding. "''Thank'' you," she says, starting to calm down though still a touch indignant.

But when Ichika lays down the lay, Kazusa stares at her for a long time before turning away and taking a long, deep breath. "Dammit," she mutters to herself. "Why..."

Why does she keep reacting to things like this? What's ''wrong'' with her?

She pinches the bridge of her nose and forces herself to inhale deeply. "Look. I'm sorry I snapped. I just... have a lot riding on this, but I shouldn't take that out on the two of you."

She drops her hand into her lap, turning back to face the other two. "My father doesn't..." She breaks eye contact to look down. "... he doesn't really... approve. So I ''really'' need you to two to not let this get out into Shujin's rumor mill, okay? Because if it gets out there, it'll get back to my father, and..."

She lets that thought trail off. She looks a little bit deflated now.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji stares as Ichika defends his honor. There are a lot of guys who'd be turned off by a girl fighting back in their armor. Ryuji isn't one of them. He watches the whole affair with red cheeks, wondering how he got such a cool girlfriend who lit his fire so.

As she gives her side of the story, Ryuji finishes up getting the tea and various other things like sugar, milk, soy sauce, ketchup, etc on a makeshift tray. He sets it down and grins at Ichika before looking back to Kazusa. He took in everything she said, feeling himself tense that another shitty adult was being shitty. He wanted to go beat the tar out of Kazusa's father.

"Look, I know you don't believe us but we keep a lot of secrets. We don't want to lose your service either. It's not in our best interest for this all to go beyond this room. Just be clearer from now on...Like It's not like I know whats inside here before I get in. A lot of guys would assume."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika isn't a princess ''or'' a cutie girlfriend. (No, no, no!)

The reform school! "Yes." Ichika's answer is short and clipped. She's used to getting pushback on hr school, but she's become proud of it. Still... ''eventually'', Kazusa relents, and doesn't make Ichika put her bodily in her own trash can.

"...When you feel like you're in danger, everybody looks like an enemy." That's Ichika's assessment, anyway. "So you're worried about it, and you snapped at us because you're scared."

She nods to Ryuji. "That's true. It looks kinda bad. But I get it; you don't want to look for boys," she says. She considers that statement, and lets it stand.

Kazusa can read in 'for now', if she wants. But Ichika isn't sure it's not a permanent thing.

"You got it, though," Ichika says. "I won't tell anybody about your art. And neither will he."

"...I know what it's like, to have an authority you don't want things to get back to. Trust me."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Don't ask Kazusa what she thinks of Ichika right now. On a completely unrelated note, there's some manga with some queer subtext on her bookshelves, not that she realizes it.

There are some romance manga, too, but not a lot and they're all shoved on the bottom shelf--as if to prove that she has them but also that she doesn't want to look at them that often. None of them have more than one or two volumes.

Probably doesn't mean anything though. Just like the half-finished fanart sketch on the far side of her desk or the anime girl wallpaper on her monitor that's visible when she starts switching programs.

"Don't bring the--" She frowns as she sees Ryuji bringing the tray over to the desk, rubbing at her face for a moment. "Oookay..." She picks up her phone and makes a note. "Next time I'll have a folding table. But ''please'' don't spill anything on my equipment."

She stares at the tray a moment. "... Sakamoto-san, do... you ''really'' put soy sauce and ketchup in your tea?"

That's kind of a weirdly nice sentiment, Ryuji, but please don't do that--Kazuki has ''way'' more money to spend on lawyers.

But Ichika offers an assessment. Having it framed like''that'' really seems to sit with Kazusa, and she looks a little stunned. "... uh... maybe, something like that," she mutters.

It rings more true than she's comfortable admitting.

Kazusa stares at Ryuji for a long moment. "... if you're keeping secrets, the way to keep them is not to tell me you have them," she points out. She's at least ''trying'' to be calm and level about it. "... and yeah, I know. Look, I don't really... invite people over here that often. It's always just been 'my studio'. My grandparents pay for it so I have a place I can practice my art without my father finding out about it."

... Not that it helped.

She doesn't want to look for boys. "... yeah. I'm... ''way'' too busy keeping my life together for that." Justifying it more makes it more true, that's just logic.

But they won't say anything. Kazusa lets out a tense sigh. "... thanks." She looks at Ichika for a moment. There might be a part of her that's curious, but... that's not the kind of thing you ask on a first meeting. So she just nods, silently, to show acceptance.

Kazusa clears her throat and sits up a little. "So, uh, the first thing we should probably talk about it... you need a better camera. I can try to upscale your footage but... I can really only do so much. But I've been looking through some reviews for recommendations, so..." She's got the list pulled up on the monitor facing Ichika and Ryuji. "... hopefully I found something that can fit your budget?"

And she did actually try--and there's even things ''other'' than Motojima cameras on this list, too!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"I dunno! I just grabbed anything!" Ryuji retorts to the question about his tea condiments. He sits back down, very near Ichika as if the girl can protect him.

Ryuji fliches at the very apt comment about Ryuji's secret keeping capabilities. "Yeah, I kinda get that a lot. But my point is still we won't really get anything by throwing you under the bus. I admit I need you more than I'd like to admit considering I need to start doing things to get me out to the real world. This is a good opportunity."

Then the cameras are presented to him. The delinquent stares for a moment as if the numbers were written in a foreign language. Then their meaning hits him and he just starts laughing. "Oh man...Ok I think I can pick up some shifts at the cafe. This is doable."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika has noticed the manga, though she isn't familiar with them so she can't use that as evidence in her ''secret suspicions''. Instead...

"...hahaha," Ichika laughs despite herself about soy sauce and ketchup. "You were nervous, huh?" she says. "It's OK. I get it." She looks at him fondly.

Then, well--

"True," Ichika says about keeping secrets, "But he's still right--we want to keep yours, too. And knowing ''why'' it's so important helps us do that."

Her grandparents must also be loaded. But she is 'The' Motojima.

"You're welcome," ichika says. Then she considers--cameras....

"You did a lot of research," she notes. "That's cool."

She looks over at Ryuji. "That works for you?" she confirms. "Cool."

"...I'm into journalism myself," Ichika says. "But my purposes are more still photography than video."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa sighs a little, though she's trying to hold back a biting comment. "If you guys want to sit, you can bring the chairs over from the kitchenette. Sorry, I know the setup is... kind of awkward." There's a Motojima game console on the desk, though it's kind of awkwardly tucked behind the monitors, with a small nest of adaptor cables.

(Over by the kitchenette are a pair of wooden chairs, and a couple of extra metal folding chairs resting up against the wall. She's had to make some quick adaptations to her setup to accomodate, well, 'having any guests at all.')

But, secrets. "... Right. We both have a stake in this. Not that my reputation at school can get any worse." (It probably can, but it's best not to dwell on it.)

She nods to Ichika. "Right. Um.. thanks."

"Get out into the real world, huh..." Isn't that what Kazusa is trying to do, with her art?

She sighs a little. "Look, just... give me a number and I can make a recommendation for that, okay?" She shrugs to Ichika, about the effort. "I can only make good videos if I get good footage."

(Translation: 'Yes, but I don't want it to seem like I care that much.')

But Ichika is into journalism. "... Oh. Cool. What kind of camera do you use, digital or analogue?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji nods and sighs. "Yeah. Mine isn't much better."

"Yeah. I think I can do this. If it needs to be done then...yeah I'll do it." Ryuji responds to Ichika, trying to appear confident despite having no idea what he is going to do to get the camera. No. Wait. He knows but he isn't happy about it. "They like me at work so I'm sure I can pick up some more hours."

"Errrr, ok....I can probably afford one of the mid level ones. It's just gonna take some work at the cafe, which isn't my favorite."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"It's cool," Ichika says. "I'm not planning to be here that long anyway, since you wanted to focus on your work. Just long enough to finish the tea is fine."

She will hold hers!

Reputations... Ichika nods. "That bad, huh? Well, you could do what I did: headbutt another girl and steal half her gang."

Probably not at Shujin. Probably.

Numbers...

"It'll be good for you," she says to Ryuji. "These videos are important to you, after all. And I can pick up the slack on some of our dates, too--no problem. I'm the older woman, right?"

She smiles. She doesn't ask about the cafe. Instead she says, "Digital. I don't have the space to develop my own film or anything."

But later, when it's time to go...

Ichika reaches out to Kazusa and levels with her, looking at her seriously. "And it's cool," she says. "I won't tell anybody you're into girls, either. I'm into more than just men myself, so I get it."

She gives a two-finger wave. "Later, Motojima."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
She nods to Ichika. "It's... fine if you want to stay, or whatever. Or if you want to come over some other time to scren some of the renders."

Her jaw kind of drops when Ichika offers that advice. "Uhhh..." She looks down and mumbles something. She is a skinny-ass 5'2" gymnast girl. She ain't headbutting anybody.

Whether this ''has'' to be done... Kazusa sighs. "There's some things we can try with your phone, I guess. If you go for a camera... I've got some stuff like extra memory cards, that should help you out."

She nods a little. Mid-range. "Okay. Just let me know."

"Cool," she says to Ichika, of her digital camera. "I mostly work in digital."

She can spend some time discussing the cameras to demystify the stats and why she put them on the list, and she also has some other things to discuss like 'processes' and 'logos' and other fun artistic things.

But later...

Kazusa is taking a sip from her canned coffee when Ichika leans in. "Mmm?"

'I won't tell anybody you're into girls, either.'

Kazusa immediately attempts to inhale her coffee instead of drinking it and ends up coughing terribly, pounding her chest to try and recover.

Her cheeks are bright red.

She lowers her voice to a hushed whisper once she recovers, glancing towards Ryuji. "Not a word. Not even to him. Please?"

But once she's seen everyone off she collapses back into her chair, staring at nothing in particular for a while.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-18: Getting Away

2026-10-19T05:36:27Z

Talnora: It's nice to relax with a friend

*'''Log: Getting Away'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kanae Fuyuki]], [[Kazusa Motojima]]
*'''Where:''' Yugawara
*'''OOC Date:''' October 18, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Saturday, January 26, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa and Kanae have arrived in Yugaware for their overnight stay. They head for a hot spring said to have healing properties, and while there they discuss a wide range of topics.''

----

(|================================ Okina City ================================|)
-====================================== Other Japan/Almost the Countryside ====-
An hour from the western wards of Tokyo by high speed train, Okina City is an
obvious middle ground between the extreme urbanization of the Greater Tokyo
Metropolis Area and living in the countryside.

The ultramodern shopping district of boutiques and cafes is a favorite, offering
options that you'd have no chance of seeing in small town life. Here, country
boys try their luck hitting on city girls near the 30-frame movie theater, more
often than not striking out as they're plenty familiar with this kind of
attention. For people here with more noble intentions, there are cram schools
and so many other opportunities not afforded by sticking to one's country town.

For most people from Tokyo, Okina City is merely a stop, but for people living
out in the country, it remains their only taste of escape.

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
A small town some distance from Tokyo, Yugawara is far enough to be out of the city but close enough to be a day trip. The JR Tokaido line for a little under two hours is enough to get there, and it's notable for its historic sites... and more to the point, for its hot springs. It has great views of the bay, but getting ''those'' on short notice would'v been more than either Kazusa or Kanae were planning to spend. But there's room for them at a small ryoukan that has an onsen, and they say that the waters are not only pleasant and smooth on the skin but promote hastened recovery from injury.

That's good for Kanae, since she did take a nasty cut in the fight--thanks to Persona healing, it looks largely healed, but it still might scar by her collarbone. She stands out in any case, even at the washing station where a few people might assume she doesn't know what to do, being an obvious foreigner..

But that's not actually true. She does!

The springs are ''not'' empty; there's some others present. But they get a corner to themselves where they can talk quietly. Right now, Kanae is just putting her long hair up in a quick bun...

"Over there," Kanae suggests to Kazusa, tilting her head toward that corner.

"...surprised you could get us a spot on such short notice at all," she comments when she finishes with her hair.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
At the very least, it's a peaceful ride, and Kazusa has time enough to do something on the train that Kanae probably doesn't see her do very often: she's got a sketchbook in her lap. (She'll still chat with Kanae along the way, of course.)

She can't really draw landscapes in a moving train, but maybe she'll have time enough later to do some sketching.

But at the hot spring, Kazusa won't argue with with a spring with healing properties. Beyond Persona injuries, her sport is kind of brutal on her body, not that she often lets it show...

Kazusa does not look foreign, of course, as she washes up. And she's familiar with the routine, too, of course. She follows Kanae's eyes towards the corner spot. "Yeah."

There's a shrug as she puts her hair up in a bun, though it's kind of awkward. "I had to look at a few different places," she admits. "... and I still didn't find two rooms at the same place..." she grumbles. "Sorry about that."

She makes her way over to the corner. She's favoring one leg, though she tries not to let it show.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Peaceful!! That's good. Kanae for her part mostly just relaxes on the trip over, though she does have a portable game system and some headphones that she doesn't end up needing at first. She also has her camera--and, ''before'' the springs, non-uniform clothes. Kanae's outfit for the day is a nice black dress with a pink jacket over, with flats. Now, of course, she isn't wearing that because they're in the spring.

So, Kanae is the one to get a few looks while Kazusa doesn't so much. Kanae is used to it anyway.

She keeps her towel, but obviously she'll keep it out of the water. She, perhaps unlike Kazusa with more wealth, is used to public baths.

"I'm not worried about that," Kanae says. "We're both girls, so it's cool unless you snore." Pause. "Do you snore?"

Kanae ''does'' notice Kazusa favoring one leg. "Looks like you really could use the chance to relax," she says. "Here, you sit down first." She offers a hand if Kazusa wants to steady herself getting in.

Kanae looks a ''little'' different without her makeup, as it happens.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa opted for a stylish dark green dress, a cream-colored sweater, tights, and ankle boots--though obviously, she's not wearing those now either.

Kazusa doesn't do them as often, no, but 'not as often' doesn't mean 'never.'

Kanae says it's cool, since they're both girls, and Kazusa nods. "Alright." But at the question she lets out a small huff. "And how would I know ''that''? Besides I'm way too refined for that."

That's not a no.

The leg Kazusa is favoring, until earlier, had some tape wrapped around the ankle. Obviously, she took it off for the bath. "It'll be okay, it's just... practice."

She stares at the offered hand for a moment before sharply turning away. "It's fine," she says a little too quickly. "I can manage."

And she does, though she's gritting her teeht as she slips into the water, and she lets out a little hiss when she sits back.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae laughs softly. "Sure, sure," she says of the snoring. "I guess I'll just have to find out." She is not worried about it, really. Sharing a room with another girl is if anything kind of welcome, considering.

But... Practice. "Practice is rough," Kanae reflects then. "I don't usually have to get taped up after Tennis Club."

Still... Kazusa of course is not willing to accpt help. So, "All right."

Kanae steps into the water next. Probably she should've gotten herself used to it first, but...

"Aaah," she says instead, immediately relieved by the heat and the water. "That is ''so'' much better," she says, and leans back against the wall of the spring.

"..."

"...So, how's 'getting away from things' going for you so far?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
By the same token, just spending time with someone is welcome for Kazuas, even if she'll never say it outright. Kazusa arches an eyebrow. "Do ''you'' snore?"

"... yeah," Kazusa says quietly. "... but that's just how rhythmic gymnastics is. If you want to be at the top, you have to drill every little thing." She sighs a moment later. "... can I be honest with you?"

Kazusa is willing to accept help, just not... help that involves holding another girl's hand. Not that it means anything, obviously.

She took a little slower, but soon she's finally relaxing. The tension melts out of her shoulders as she closes her eyes for a moment. "... I really needed this..."

She considers that for a moment. "... pretty good, honestly. Just the chance to be away from everybody staring, or gossiping..." She looks up to the sky. "... what about you?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"No," Kanae says with some amusement. "I'm apparently a dream to sleep near."

But it's how it is... "You might as well be," honest that is, "Considering. That's the sort of friend you go out to a bath with." But of course, it doesn't mean anything--well, it doesn't for Kanae, though she suspects it might for ''Kazusa''. She's being delicate about things for that reason.

"Me, too."

But? "...Mm, yeah." Kanae's not ''entirely'' away from the gossiping wherever she goes, but...

"I feel good about it. I like going places. And I like hot springs. I just get to go to the regular baths, usually."

"...I'm still gtting used to the idea that we're done with all that drama."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa gives Kanae a funny look. "'A dream to sleep near'? What?" What a weird way to phrase it, in Kazusa's mind.

But the type of friend... Well, Kazusa ''did'' pitch 'a weekend trip' on awfully short notice, huh? She reflects on that a moment and then nods. "Right, well... If I'm being honest.... I kind of hate it." Rhytmic gymnastics, that is.

Kazusa doesn't really know what it means to her, which is kind of the problem.

Kazusa's only considering the school rumors, at the moment. Sorry, Kanae.

"Going places is nice, yeah... I spend a lot of time in my studio, but... it's nice to spend some time outside of it, too..."

"''Tell'' me about it... I know the..." Her eyes flick over to the other people in the spring before lowering her voice. "... I know there's always more 'work' in the future, but I really just want a chance to worry about other things for a while..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah. I don't steal blankets or anything."

Kanae powers through. It was short notice, but Kanae didn't have much else to do this weekend, really. And now, she's learning things! "...Ah," she says. "Well, that sucks. Having to put that much work into something you don't even like doing..."

"You should get out more," Kanae opines. "Having a studio is nice, but getting out into the world is a good thing."

'Work'. "mm-hm," Kanae says. "Well, in that case... Let's worry about normal things, instead."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa nods. "Well, good then." And now that's something Kazusa is worried she might do. Also potential snoring.

... that's just what she needs, to invite Kanae on a trip and then treat her horribly while she's not even awake enough to realize it.

"I ''used'' to like it... but it's just... work. Something always hurts, and I hate having to watch what I eat all the time..." She closes her eyes for a moment. "But I can't quit, so..."

"I should," she agrees, of getting out more. "I just... need all the time I can get to work on my art."

"Normal things. Right. Like..." she trails off a bit.

So much of her life ''doesn't'' feel normal, sometimes, she's struggling to pick a topic.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
They'll have separate blankets Kanae's pretty sure. But she has to joke about relationship stuff if she's going to keep feeling lighthearted about it. ...Well, somewaht lighthearted.

"Mm," Kanae says. "Sport... is supposed to be something you enjoy. It's supposed to be a passion, not an obligation. I'm sorry you're stuck with it."

Working on her art... "Your art's good," she says. "It's worth focusing on."

But normal things...

"Heheh, we haven't had a chance to focus on those in a while, huh? I dunno. Grades. Exams. School." Pause. "...Relationships that are with actual people."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Nobody said Kazusa's worries all had to be rational. But relationships are... something Kazusa (and her Homunculus) have admitted she doesn't ahve a lot of experience with.

Kazusa is quiet for a long moment. "... thanks,"she says after a long moment. "I... I appreciate it." It feels weird having someone be sympathetic to her concerns. Good, but weird. "How's Tennis Club treating you? With... everything that's happened?"

'Your art's good. It's worth focusing on.'

o/~ o/~ o/~

There's actually a small little smile, and Kazusa looks off at something else for a moment. "... thanks."

"I dunno. I could do with less school, honestly." But she's silent when Kanae mentions relationships. "... mmm." She keeps her voice neutral. "... so, you're thinking about looking for another boyfriend?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"You're welcome," Kanae says, though it admittedly feels strange to say about a thing as small as caring that Kazusa is having a rough time. It's not something she's going to press too far on at the moment, anyway. Instead she says, "It's good. Isabeau and I are almost back to normal, even."

That is to say, fighting.

But Kanae smiles when Kazusa seems happy. It's good.

"I guess," Kanae says. "But school's what got me out to Tokyo. I... appreciate it a lot."

Is she? "I mean, probably letting one find me," she muses, "But yeah. One way or another, I'm thinking I'll dip my toes back into dating."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Sometimes it's the small things that make a differeence. But she and Isabeau are almost back to normal. "Ahh. Well, then I'll hope for you two not getting tossed out of practice."

Yes, both of them. Not just Kanae.

"Really?" Kazusa looks at Kanae curiously. "... how'd it do that?" After a moment she asks, "... where were you before?"

If she chastised herself for not knowing Shinichi any better when that information would've helped, maybe... she can rectify tht by taking an interest now.

Letting someone find her. "Ah. Well... good luck, I guess." ''Is'' that a thing you wish luck for? Probably after... everything with Shinichi's Homunculus it is, right?

The last time Kazusa--or at least, something piloting her body--brought up dating it was... ''very'' awkward. Kazusa looks up again, feeling a bit pensive. She's not sure how to broach the topic.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Ha, yeah. Hopefully." Kanae catchse taht it's both of them.

"I applied to Shujin," Kanae explains, "And came out here for school. ...I was in a small town called Inaba, before, living with my aunt and uncle. That's where I ended up after my parnets died when I was little."

She quiets after that, shaking her head. "...Anyway," she says. "Thanks! I might need it to end up with somebody decent."

But Kazusa... Is pensive. "Hm?" Kanae asks. "...If there's something you're wondering, you can ask me. Like I said, not hiding much right now."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Ahh." Kazusa looks to Kanae. "What made you pick Shujin? Just... curious." It's not her favorite school, but, she's trying to keep an open mind. Inaba... "Oh, yeah, I think I've heard of that place. What's it like?"

"... yeah. I bet."

But when Kanae presses, Kazusa shrugs a little. "... I dunno. Dating's not... well, you know. I've never been on one. I've thought about it but it just never... seems to click into place, I guess."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Good school, not too far from the French district around here..." She looks wry, "Had an Olympian on staff. I regretted that one."

But Inaba. "It's small," Kanae says. "Not all bad, but the kids didn't have a lot of time for the dark-skinned hafu."
5rIt's more fun to talk about dating! for her, at least. "That's OK," Kanae says. "Not everybody's into it at this age, right? If you just haven't met anybody you're into, that's not even unusual."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Yeaaah, that one..." Kazusa makes a face. "... the French district is at least nice, right?"

"Ah." And there's the hafu thing again. Kazusa can't say she hasn't noticed, of course, but... it's not something she's considered all that much. "... guess that makes things kinda hard sometimes, huh?"

Not everybody... Kazusa sinks into the water a little bit more. "It kind of feels that way, though..." That everybody is into it. "Waka-chan loves going and seeing romance movies..."

It might be easy to infer that Kazusa doesn't, given how she reacted the last time, or how she's bringing it up now.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, it's great. Really nice. I get to practice my French a lot, too."

"A lot of the time," Kanae says. "People just... don't like people who are 'different'. And I'm visibly different."

"...Your friends do," she says. "That's OK."

Kanae looks up. "But you don't. ...That's OK."

"You don't have to."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa blinks. "Oh, yeah. I guess you'd want someone to practice that with, huh..." You know, when it doesn't coincide with fighting with Isabeau. Kazusa lets her gaze drift away a little. "... I've been thinking about learning French," she admits, quietly. "So if I did, maybe we could... practice together?"

"... I wasn't that much different from them," Kazusa admits, though the truth of it makes her uncomfortable. "If it hadn't been for... you know."

Nearly losing her life to a supernatural doppleganger of her. What does that say about hre, that it took something that serious to start taking a serious look at herself?

Kanae reassures her it's okay, but... "... I still kind of want to, though... I just... I dunno."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Have you?" Kanae says. "Sure. I can help you," she says, since to her mind that's more of what it is to start, at least. "And once you get good, we can talk more in it."

"What draws you to it?"

Then, "No, you weren't." Kanae can be blunt sometimes. This is one of those times. "But now you are. I'm more interested in who you are now than who you used to be--the girl in front of me."

"Hmm..."

"Well, if you figure out what you don't know," Kanae says, "Let me know, OK?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks. Or, uh... Merci, I guess?" Her pronunciation needs some work, but she's trying. She looks sheepish. "I... might've started with an app already..."

A small shrug. "I mean..." There's a quiet huff, although this one is more performative, trying to sound dismissive. "... if you and Fontaine-san are going to spend half your time yelling at each other in French you can at least do us the courtesy of translating."

There are actually other reasons, though. But some of them feel too embarrassing to day.

Kazusa nods silently. Ann basically said the same thing to her, not so long ago. "Thanks. Just... call me out if I slip out, okay? I don't... want to go back to being that way."

Which means she's scared she might.

"Mmm... I will." She thinks for a moment. "Can... I ask you something? You don't have to answer, if you don't want to."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks is cool," Kanae answrs. "But 'Merci' is nice too." Her pronunciation is obviously better, but it's meant to be helpful rather than rub Kazusa's nose in it. "Oh yeah? I guess you start wherever you start. That's cool."

"Heheheh. Don't count on that one," Kanae laughs back.

But the other...? Hmmm.

"I will," Kanae says. "Trust me. I don't like that kind of person--I used to contribute to that kind of thing, too. ...I'd just let it go, so I wouldn't rock the boat, become the next target."

"Well, no more."

Then, "Sure," she says. "I'll tell you if it's something I don't want to say."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Merci," Kazusa repeats, obviously just trying to imitate Kanae's pronunciation. "I'll... keep working on it." She nods. "It was easier to fit into my schedule than finding a class," she admits, of the app.

A roll of her eyes. "I figured. So I'll just do it myself."

Kazusa looks skeptical for a moment when Kanae says she used to contribute--but then thoughtful as she explains. "Oh. Huh. Well... that's what you're 'supposed' to do, isn't it? To not stand out? Though I guess in your case that's... harder... um, no offense. Sorry." She's actively trying to work through it, even if it comes out awkwardly sometimes.

But questions... it takes Kazusa a moment to figure out how to formulate things. "... how do you know... um..." She frowns. "... if it's a good match I guess? Or... how do you go about, you know, finding someone?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Cool." Kanae takes the admission in stride since, "No, that's fine. Doing stuff on your phone is cool."

But indeed. No such luck.

"It is," Kanae says. "And... you're right. It's harder. ...It's OK; I just... don't talk about it that much. Most people don't understand. But since we're friends, I'd like it if you could."

"...Honestly?" Kanae says. "You kinda don't. You just... find somebody you like, and start going out with them. Then, as you get to know them better, you find out whether it's going to work."

"There's no way to just know at the outset."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Cool. And... you can correct me on all the things the app gets wrong, now."

Kazusa nods slowly. "I'd... like to understand, if you're willing to talk about it. If I'm trying to become a better person, then... I should understand my friend better, right?"

You just find somebody you like. "I don't even know what I like," Kazusa admits. She'd sink into the water more but she's already sunk as low as she can while keeping her head above the water. "... well, whatever. After everything at school, I'm not sure anybody would be interested in me anyway."

Or she's skeptical of those that might be, like Yasushi, but Kazusa won't mention him for now.

"... So what are you looking for?" Maybe discussing someone else's love life instead of her own will be better.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Sure."

But Kazusa wants to understand... Kanae reaches up to tap at her own cheek, thinking. "OK," she says. "Then, I'll remember that."

"That's OK," Kanae says. "You kind of... Well, for me, I just know it when I see it. From there I can say what it is."

"...Maybe," Kanae says. "You have to wtch out, though--just because they're interested in you doesn't mean they've got good intentions."

Still, "...I want a guy who isn't afraid to stand up for what he thinks. Somebody athletic, and strong. ...Somebody who's willing to be on the 'other side' from somebody, but cares about my feelings."

"...Tall doesn't hurt. But it's not really a hard requirement."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Cool." Kazusa already compromised on dinner, so... she's learning!

There's just kind of a long, silent frown as Kanae says you just know it when you see it. That both is and isn't helpful to Kazusa.

"... yeah, I know." Given her (lack) of popularity and what the kids were saying when the Homunculus pressed her up against the wall...

But, Kanae knows what she likes. "Mmm. That sounds nice, I guess." Even if it isn't quite resonating with her.

She watches the horizon for a long while. "... what if... I never find a guy I like..." Shje seems really worried about that possibility.

For some reason.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
It's all there is! Kanae doesn't have a more scientific method to offer. Still...

"Should be. I might get surprised, too. You never know what's there in somebody. ...You just take a chance, I guess."

But what if...?

Kanae looks out for a while, too. "..."

"...Then I guess you save yourself a big set of headaches."

"...It's fine. Maybe we can talk more about it later.. I think we're starting to get funny looks."

"I could stand to just relax a little..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"mmm... I guess..." Kazusa sounds dubious, but she also has no experience.

"... yeah." She has enough headaches to worry about, so that's probably fine.

She glances over at the rest of the hot spring participants before looking back to Kanae. "... yeah, later."

She shifts around to reposition herself. "... yeah. It's too bad we only have the one night here..."

... Maybe there's somethign to be done about that. But that's something to worry about later. For now, Kazusa will focus on trying to soak up all the healing minerals.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-16: More Than Friends

2026-10-17T03:42:44Z

Talnora: And importantly, there is also Pudding.

*'''Log: More Than Friends'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Hyousuke Suzuki]]
*'''Where:''' Hirasaka - Main
*'''OOC Date:''' October 16, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Friday, January 25, 2013
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke got Ririka a gift for her and her 'friend' to enjoy for Christmas. Now, Ririka and Ikumi go to talk top Hyousuke and say thanks. And also to explain that they're... well, it's in the title.''

----

(|============================= Hirasaka - Main ==============================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Hirasaka Ward ====-
The westernmost ward of the city, and also the one furthest inland, Hirasaka is
considered one of the least desirable places to live in Sumaru. This is in part
due to the bad reputation of local Kasugayama High School, nicknamed "Kasu High"
by its students and "Cuss High" by its detractors. A school of overwhelmingly
boys but some errant girls, it's said to be for delinquents, poors, and other
"problem" children. Just down the street is Sumaru Prison, which is not a prison
but an underground club with a live stage, and either way the parents of Sevens
students hate it.

It's not all bad in Hirasaka, though. The shopping is second to none, with a
huge five-story mall called Smile Hirasaka that offers a wide variety of
businesses and conference meeting rooms; just be sure to go on a day when the
stores aren't closed. For those who want a more homey atmosphere for their
purchases, there's Kameya Alley. Plenty of office buildings populate the area,
too.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke got Ririka a very thoughtful gift for Christmas, an experience at a tea house, good for herself and one 'friend'. Only... Hyousuke didn't ahve the full story of the 'friend' Ririka had been shopping for in the mall that day.

Ikumi is... ''way'' more than a friend to Ririka, to put it lightly.

After some checking on the backend, and some long talks with Ikumi, Ririka reached out to Hyousuke, inquiring how he and Pudding were doing, and also arranging a meetup so she could introduce the 'friend' that had benefitted from his gift.

And so! Ririka finds herself making the trek to Sumaru today, dressed in a jacket over a flannel and cargo pants. And she's arriving at the park with a girl who is much more average height, with short, messy dyed-green hair, jacekt, pleated skirt, and tights. (And also, fingerless gloves.)

They're chatting as they walk into the park, in low voices.

"... so the tall brawny guy, right?" murmurs Ikumi, looking far more relaxed than she feels as she strolls along.

"Yeah. He's not so bad, once you get to know him," Ririka promises, looking about a quarter anxious as she feels. They're both scanning the park.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>In anyone else, the bashful way Ririka had spoken about her 'friend' and the look Ichika had given him upon mentioning them would have, at the very least, aroused some small level of interest. Hyousuke was not anyone else. The signs had failed to make it through the dense layer of bone that was his skull, and he simply assumed that Ririka had taken that rather close friend out for a day out. In spite of it all, he did cock a brow at her wanting to introduce him to that friend. Another supernaturally-inclined person, perhaps? One of the members of the team she was on that he'd potentially be working with? No way to know for sure without going, he supposed, and thus he agreed to meet her.

Pudding was to come along as well, of course. If he found out that Hyousuke had gone to the park without him, Hyousuke had no doubt the fuzzy little fellow would be most displeased.

It wasn't long before Hyousuke came into view. A solid wall of muscle, hewn into an athletic build and topped by a short crop of honey-blonde hair, he looked like trouble before one noticed the deep trench carved into his face from brow to cheek. This was more or less alleviated by two things. One, the polite expression he wore, followed by the broad smile and enthusiastic wave he gave upon seeing Ririka and her - he presumed - friend. Two, the dog that trotted along at the end of the lead he held. Short, golden-furred, and sniffing at everything Hyousuke let him, Pudding was about the furthest thing from intimidating a dog could be.

"Kawase-san! Hey! Hope I didn't keep you two waiting too long." Hyousuke said, noticeably louder than their hushed tones, but not so loud as to call attention. Pudding had no such inhibitions, however. Not only did he see someone he recognised as a friend, but beside her was a new person - a new friend, potentially. Overjoyed at such a glorious bounty, he strained a little at the lead, let out a happy bark, and looked up with wagging tail and expectant eyes. Hyousuke himself looked from Ririka to Ikumi, and gave a firm nod by way of greeting. "You're Kawase-san's friend, aren't you? Hyousuke Suzuki. Pleasure to meet you. And this little guy's Pudding. Don't worry, he's friendly - he's probably not gonna stop staring at you until you pet him, thinking about it..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
To be fair to Hyousuke, it's not exactly like Ririka advertises it. (Maybe someday she will, but today is definitely not that day.)

Ikumi might be recognizeable from school--she runs with a gang, but she also runs books for various wagers at times, at least when the teachers aren't looking. (The teachers are often not looking.)

Ririka waved. "Hey, Suzuki-san!" she called out. "Hey, Pudding!"

Ikumi gives a much more relaxed single lift of a hand and a casual, "Yo."

"No, you're good!" Ririka says, with a small shake of her head. "We're just getting here."

'Friend.' Ikumi smirks a little, though that's to steel her own nerves. "Yeah, you could say that. Ikumi Okuyama. I've seen you around Cuss high, right? Nice to meet you, Senpai."

Ririka, on the other hand, blushes a little. "Yeeep. Uh, I--we--" she shoots a look at Ikumi, who nods back. "--just wanted tot hank you for your gift. We had a really nice time."

Ikumi squats to hold her hand ot for pudidng to sniff. "Hey there, little guy." She's wearing fingerless gloves.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Pudding did not care about gloves, fingerless or not. Ikumi was within range, and that meant it was time to investigate. He sniffed, prodding and poking at her palm with his nose, until finally... another happy bark. Satisfied that she was indeed friend, Pudding licked at her hand and pressed his entire face into it, all but demanding that she grant him the attention he so rightly deserved. Hyousuke was a lot calmer by comparison. While the hand clamped onto Pudding's lead was obvious active, the other remained loose, his thumb jammed unceremoniously into the edge of his pocket.

"Yeah. Got in this year, if you're wondering why you haven't seen me before that." Hyousuke said in response, a little tersely, but not so much - he hoped that it came across as unfriendly. When he turned to Ririka, he was quiet for a moment once she finished. There was a vaguely puzzled look to him as he evaluated her, but nothing that lasted once he began to speak again. "Pleasure's all mine. There's some really nice places around here, if you want any more recommendations." There was even a place that did a delightful little set for couples, but he didn't think she'd be interested in that.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ikumi lets out a quiet laugh and proceeds to vigorously pet the Pudding. "Friendly little guy, aren'tcha? I got plenty more where that all came from" Hyousuke explains that he transferred in that year. "Yeeep. I know. You don't run with a crew either, right?" She looks up, studying Hyousuke for a moment. "... wouldn't have taken you for a dog guy, but if this little guy likes you you can't be all bad."

"Pudding's a stray that Suzuki-san found," Ririka chimes in, glancing at Hyousuke. Ikumi's not Awakened, so she cna't explain about the Rumor, but that version of the story is essentially true.

Ririka is quiet as Hyousuke studies her. By contrast, she worries if he's already figured it out. The offer of more recommendations doens't exactly disprove that hypothesis. "That'd be gret, thanks. I hope you liked the tea and snack set I picked up for you."

Ririka takes her turn to kneel and offer a hand to Pudding. "Hey, Pudding. Glad to see you're doing okay." She glances up from the inevitable onrush of doggy attention. "Everything okay with Pudding? You need any help with things for him?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Pudding did indeed like Hyousuke. However, he also seemed to like Ririka. And Ikumi. And anyone else that paid attention to him. He was indeed a friendly little guy, and leaned into every bit of petting that Ikumi gave, tongue lolling out in abject joy at the fact that a person had deigned to spoil him. The sight was enough to lend a smile to Hyousuke's features that, while not much wider than what the polite one he wore, was noticeably warmer.
"Not really my style. The gangs, I mean. Dogs are fine."

"Couldn't just let him wander around alone, especially at this time of year." Hyousuke said offhandedly, deciding to omit any mention of Ririka and the rest of SEES lending a hand. If she wanted to mention that to Ikumi, that was her perogative - he didn't want to put her in an awkward position by spilling more details than were needed. Being friends with a couple of Phantom Thieves had drilled at least a little bit of opsec into his head, it seemed. Pudding, of course, cared little for the intricacies of concealing a secret identity, instead caring much more about receiving pets from Ririka as well. He spun, shifted, barked, and sniffed, leaving little doubt as to how happy he was to be doted on in such a manner.

"It's fine. I'm set for supplies at the moment and I've got an apartment lined up." He said, speaking casually in response to Ririka's query. "But I'd appreciate it if you could get him to go on a playdate with Koro once in a while. Socialising with other dogs is supposed to be good for him, and Koromaru seems pretty well-behaved." Hyousuke looked to Pudding briefly, then back to Ririka. "What about you? You need my help with anything?" He asked, phrasing it as innocuously as possible, but firming his voice just a little. He didn't suspect exactly what was up, but being called out to the park to speak in person, her blush, her quiet... Something amongst it all had piqued his curiosity.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ikumi shrugs a little. "Hey, if you're makin' it work for you, more power to ya, man." She's only going to be concerned with Hyousuke if he starts making trouble for her and hers, really. "But, uh, yeah. Thanks for the gift. We had a really nice time."

But Hyousuke was concerned, given the time of year... Ikumi nods approvingly. "Not everyone's that decent. Cool." She gives a meaningful look to Ririka, who just smiles back at her.

"Who's a good boy," Ririka coos to Pudding, petting his hears and head. She looks up and nods as Hyousuke says he's set on supplies. "That's good." She brightens. "Oh yeah, Koro-chan! I'll talk to the others, but that'd be good."

Ikumi shoots Ririka a more quizzical look, and Ririka smiles. "I'll explain later. And send you photos."

Ikumi shrugs. "Alright."

But Hyousuke asks, and Ririka shakes her head. "Things are good for now, but... thanks." She stalls for a moment, looking to Ikumi.

Ikumi scratches her cheek for a moment. "Hey, senpai. Are you tight with Kashihara-senpai at all?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>With Pudding sufficiently distracted by the attentions of an established friend and a new one, Hyousuke was free to give Ikumi a quizzical look of his own, even tilting his head a little at the question. That Ririka had deferred to her only made the situation more curious, and he couldn't help but wonder what exactly was going on.
"Kashihara-san? Yeah, we're cool. He's tutored me a few times, and we hang out." He said. It was a lot easier to say that, than to explain that he'd helped spearhead a rescue operation concerning his peer.

"Why do you ask? Is something wrong?" Hyousuke asked, blinking a little and looking somewhat concerned. They were calm - relatively speaking - and that alone was enough to keep him from being on edge, but he couldn't help but feel like he'd missed a step along the way.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Tutoring, they've hung out. Ikumi looks to Ririka, and the two share a small nod. "No, nothin'gs wrong," Ikumi continues. "Just, ah..."

Ririka's at least said this a few times already. Ikumi hasn't done it the once. When Ikumi looks to Ririka for a lifeline, Ririka can't help but laugh a little, quietly. "So the reason I wanted to come thank you in person," Ririka picks up. "And to introduce you to Ikumi-chan is... well. You didn't just give me a nice gift for me and my friend, you kind of... got me a nice gift for me and my girlfriend."

Ririka's blushing, but she's smiling. Ikumi is also blushingand is fiddling with something in her coat pocket.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Were one to examine Hyousuke closely as he processed what Ririka said, they might have heard the hamster wheel squeaking away, or seen his eyes go a little blank as he turned the words over in his mind. Then, suddenly, his mouth opened a little, and the wheel suddenly came to a screeching halt.
"Oh. OH. So *that's* why Ichika-san was looking at me funny when I told her what I got you two." Hyousuke rolled his eyes a little as it dawned on him, and shook his head as if to dismiss the thought entirely. "Well, thanks for telling me. And congrats on the uh... girlfriend." He gestured vaguely between the two of them with his free hand, unsure of how exactly to respond, but hoped that a general sentiment of warmth and acceptance came through.

He thought for a moment, and in a rare moment of considering things beyond the immediate moment, followed through with another question.
"Who else knows? Apart from your sister, I mean."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka and Ikumi are both kind of holding their breath a little, waiting for Hyousuke to process things... and Ririka looks relieved when Hyousuke gets it. (Ikumi, too, though she's still a little bit tense.)

And Ririka laughs as Hyousuke relays the tidbit about IOchika. "Wait, really? She didn't tell me about that..." "You're welcome, and... thanks."

Ririak reaches up to take Ikumi's hand, giving her a reassuring smile as she interlces their fingers together.

"Girlfriend," she confirms.

Ikumi flashes Ririka a warm smile for a moment, the hand in her pocket settling. "Thron boss is the only one who knows for me," says Ikumi. "And, uh, I'd kiiind of like to keep it that way?"

"Sis knows," Ririka says. "So does my family, so does my band, and a few of my friends. I'm just... taking it slow, for now."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Hyousuke nodded, keeping quiet until both Ikumi and Ririka had finished addressing him. Even when they had, however, he remained silent a second longer, though it wasn't the slow processing like before. It was a thoughtful silence that he broke before it had time to grow into anything awkward.
"Yeah, don't worry about that one. I'm not gonna talk about it to anyone you two haven't." Ririka's answer was a little vague, but he supposed asking for a specific list would be a little awkward, so simply let sleeping dogs lie. Metaphorically speaking. Pudding was very much not sleeping.

"Man, looking back though... Can't believe I didn't think there was *something* up. Not that I don't understand why you didn't say anything at the time." Hyousuke said, laughing a little at his own density. For Ririka's sake, he didn't elaborate on exactly how she'd acted while he'd gone shopping with Fuuka. If their positions were reversed, he knew he'd be mortified. "Just glad you're telling me now. But now that I do know, I'm gonna start looking up places that do couples' sets. I know, I know, you don't want to go around telling everyone. But there's this one place I went to had the *cutest* little heart-shaped muffins. Damn it, what was its name..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka can fill in Hyousuke later--there's a few members of SEES who know already, but Ririka doesn't think other parts of her social circle overlap with Hyousuke all that much.

"Cool, thanks. I appreciate it," says Ikumi. Ririka eches the sentiment.

Ririka laughs, and looks to Ikumi. "Oh, right before Christmas, I ran into Suzuki-kun and a friend of mine, Fuuka-chan, at the mall while trying to figure out what to gte you. Except, well... I said I was shopping for a friend, and..."

Ikumi lets out a sharp bark of laughter. "Ha! And he ended up gettin' a gift for you and your 'friend', huh?"

Ririka blinks. "... Yeah." She looks at Hyousuke. "... did you guys ever say who you were shopping for?"

"Oh, and Fuuka-chan knows, too."

But Hyousuke's thinking of looking up more places. "Oh, thanks, but... you don't have to get us another experience or anything. But the recommendations would be welcome."

Ikumi looks to Ririka, and mouths the word 'cutest?' as Hyousuke puzzles. Ririka shrugs and looks down at Pudding. It's fine.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Hyousuke bit back a laugh, doing his level best to keep from letting it manifest too openly. However, there was no keeping his smile from splitting his face just a little wider.
"No, we didn't. It's 'cause we were figuring out what to get *you* as a present. Wasn't sure if I was supposed to think I was unlucky 'cause you were there while we were trying to keep it a surprise, or if we got lucky *because* you showed up, but it all worked out in the end."

Then they mentioned another gift, and his expression became one of mild puzzlement.
"Hm? Oh, no, you guys're booking your own places, I'm just getting recommendations for you. This little guy's been eating up any spare cash I make." Hyousuke chuckled a little at his own remark. Pudding looked to him for a moment, mouth hanging open in a steady pant at the suspicion he was being talked about, before returning his attention to a particularly crunchy leaf. Or, rather, the remains of one. With a furious flurry of blows, Pudding rendered the leaf down into little more than scraps, valiantly vanquishing his foe.

Pudding looked back up at Ririka. He looked expectant. Did she want to give him more pets? He certainly wanted more pets. He nudged into her and wagged his tail, letting out a (relatively) quiet bark to grab her attention. Or Ikumi's. Or Hyousuke's. Anyone that would give him the attention he deserved, really. Alas, that small dog being an open secret in the boys' dorms had no doubt dealt a mortal blow against whatever Hyousuke's reputation had been, only for the remains to be trampled upon by his love of tea pastries becoming known to more people.
"Speaking of, that set you got me's good stuff. Where'd you find it? Somewhere on Port Island? I might start paying more visits if you've got stuff like that stashed away over there..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
And it turns out, they were shopping for ''her''. Ririka blinks in surprise, and then bursts out laughing. "Oh no, I didn't mean to--" She has to stop speaking to let another laugh pass. "Well, I guess you did figure out a gift for me, after all, huh?"

Ikumi is snickering a little too, and at Pudding's bark she kneels down and grins. "C'mere, you mutt." She pats her lap to get the dog's attention, and then reaches out for more pettings.

But they're on their own. "Okay, okay, cool. Just... wanted to make sure," Ririka says. "Thank you!" But as for where she got that tea set. "Oh, yeah, I'll text you toe name of the store."

And with the heavy news out of the way, they can let the conversation take its natural course for a while.

... All while giving Pudding plenty of pets, of course.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-16: Getting Out of Town

2026-10-17T03:33:49Z

Talnora: Friends, not guests.

*'''Log: Getting Out of Town'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Kanae Fuyuki]]
*'''Where:''' Shujin Academy - Practice Building
*'''OOC Date:''' October 16, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Friday, January 25, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''It's Friday after school, and things have been... tense, to put it mildly. Kanae and Kazusa check in with each other as they leave school together, and an idea is proposed: a short trip out of town, to relieve some stress.''

----

(|==================== Shujin Academy - Practice Building ====================|)
-==================================================== Tokyo/Aoyama-Itchome ====-
Shujin Academy's practice building hosts rooms for the school's various clubs,
but also boxes in the school's courtyard gardens, which are lovingly kept. There
are plenty of places in the courtyard to sit for students looking to eat lunch
outdoors or just enjoy the weather, and the walkways have roofs for when it
rains. The gymnasium is large and well-equipped; thick red curtains block off a
stage and podium in the back, so setting up folding chairs can convert it into
an auditorium as necessary.

The interior is both like and unlike the classrooms building: the floors are
still wooden but in a latticed design; the walls are still white and gray, but
with only a small strip of gray at the bottom; and the sliding classroom doors
still have windows, but long, narrow rectangular ones. Vending machines dot the
premises here and there, as do well-kept bathrooms.

The first floor in particular hosts the nurse's office, a surprisingly
comfortable room with green-tiled floors, potted ferns, medicine cabinets,
hospital-style beds behind pink curtains, bookshelves, and plush couches around
a tea table. One can seek counseling here from Dr. Maruki, the kind-hearted
temporary guidance counselor, for any reason.

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa has been tense for--well, for a ''very'' long time, if she's being honest. (She tries not to think about it.) But the terror of Shinichi's Homunculus has been especially stressful, though thankfully that specific terror is now at an end.

... for good,she hopes.

Of course, that doesn't mean everything can go back to normal. Along with all of the regular grind of her life, she still has to put up with her father, rhythmic gymnastics, and of course, her ever deteriorating reputation at school.

As much as she knows her status as the Demon Queen wasn't really helpful for anyone else, it's hard not to miss that mask some days.

But at least, she has a friend or two now.

Such as Kanae, whom she can see at the gate as she comes walking out of the school. Kazusa looks pretty tired, but shere's a fleeting smile as she sees Kanae.

"Hey, Kanae-chan. You ready to leave?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae, on the other hand, has seemed much more relaxed. 'Seemed' is the operative word; there's been a lot of tension for her, too, and a great deal of stress. Now... it all seems a lot smaller than it was.

Even if she gets whispers in the halls as she passes, as the news of her 'breakup' with Shinichi Nagisa spreads. The news has spread fast, and it at least makes Kanae look a little better than it could.

Amicable breakup, based on not wanting the same things after graduation--and they have to think about graduation coming up as their third years of high school loom ahead, right?

Kanae is talking with Himeki as Kazusa approaches, a girl a little shorter than her with black hair and a slight build.

"Are you sure?" she asks Kanae, and Kanae gives her a small smile. "It's cool. Let's talk later, OK? Get on out of here, I know you have places to be."

"All right..."

Kanae then turns towards Kazusa as Himeki leaves. "Yes," Kanae answers. "Can't happen soon enough, as far as I'm concerned."

She gets a dark look from a passing student, and Kanae shakes her head. "LEt's go."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa is still getting her own looks, of course. Unfinished justice, perhaps, or just a general disdain for her that carried over from when she was actively trying to terrorize the student populace.

She can only hope that nobody will be as bold s Shinichi's Homucnulus was to try and complete that 'justice.'

She's not as good at hiding her stress as Kanae.

Shje draws up short as she sees Kanae with the other girl, awkwardly holding her distance.

Once Himeki leaves, Kazusa approaches, giving Kanae a nod. "... Yeah." She glances at that student giving Kanae the look. and heads for the gate. She's silent for a moment before she says, "... 'Amicable breakup', huh? Are people buying that?"

There was really nothing about Shinichi's Homunculus that screamed 'amicable.' But if it works, it works.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae is ''great'' at hiding her stress. She's an expert!

The student that gave Kanae that look turns her nose up at Kazusa, too. But there...

"Eh," Kanae says. "We said that we both wanted different things after graduation, so there was no long-term potential," she says. "People might not buy it at first, but it's good enough that it'll blow over eventually. People always want to talk about the next new thing, anyway."

"...besides, it's better than 'I chewed up him and spat him out like I did that poor Touma boy'," she says with a roll of her eyes.

"How about you? Feeling any better now that you're not stuck in class with a Homunuculus?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa does her best to look unimpressed at the girl snubbing her.

"Graduation..." Kazusa frowns. Just a little over a year away.... and she's not looking forward to it. "... I can't decide if I want to put it off or get it over with."

But the story they came up with. The next new thing... "Yeah. And it's honestly kind of a boring reason, so that'll help it blow over faster."

She winces a little as she replays that in her head. "'Boring' is good in this context," she quickly adds.

But Touma... "... yeah. It'll definitely fizzle out a little bit faster than that one."

She shrugs a little as Kanae asks how she is. "Glad I don't have to watch over my shoulder for a serial killer, at least. Now I just have to clean up the mess ''two'' Homunculi have made of my life," she gripes.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"That's the fun part," Kanae says, grinning at Kazusa. "It happens either way!" She waits a beat and then, "But I do get it. Things in my future look a lot different than I thought they would a while ago..."

Boring person reason. "Right," Kanae says. "IT's much better."

"I can't be sure that's not how people are going to talk about it, but we can try, right?" Then, "Mm. ...I can relate. A lot of things in mine have changed now..."

She turns onto the street outside the school, but makes a stop at the vending machines a bit down the way.

"I guess they never promised this stuff wouldn't impact our normal lives, huh?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa doesn't smile back. "The inevitable march of time and entropy..." Someone's feeling a litle pessimistic about the future. But things are different for Kanae. Kazusa looks over to her. "... yeah? How come." She can think of a few reasons, but doesn't feel like guessing.

"I mean, if you both stick to it, that'll help..." Kazusa considers for a moment. "... how's he taking things? We haven't really gotten a chance to talk yet."

Messed up. "... yeah. My Homunculus really didn't make things any easier for me at home..."

She stops when Kanae does and leans against the machine. "... yeah. Some eople told me my Persona meant I had power or freedom or whatever, and like, I guess getting money in Mementos is ''something'', but... I'm still stuck with some of the same problems."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"I mean, Touma and I were really serious," Kanae continues. "Like, 'his family was going to be my family' kind of serious. We'd been going out since the start of first year. Now...? Whatever I'm doing, i'm doing it on my own. ...It's fine. But it's different, too."

"He wants to apologize a bunch," Kanae answers, shrugging and tapping out an order on the vending machine after putting in a few coins. She leans down to get her soda when it drops down.

"It does," she says. "You have power. There's things you can do that other people can't."

"...I bet it didn't, though."

"It's just..."

"The sort of power we have is the sort of power that can't solve our problems if we aren't willing to use it. And for some things... we just aren't. And I think that's OK."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
And Touma was one of the reasons she'd guessed. ('Destiny' and 'school drama from the Homunculus' were also in the running, though.) "Mm. Thaaat's... pretty serious, yeah. Pretty long time to be seeing someone too, I guess."

No she isn't getting a tiny bit upset thinking about it, that'd be weird. It's over now anyway.

Apologize a lot. "... that kind of tracks. Kind get where he's coming from, though."

But for some problems... "Yeah. I know." I just..." She waits for Kanae to move so she can step in front and get some coffee for herself. "... I want to do better, but it feels like everything's working against me sometimes."

She sighs, resting her forehead against the vending machine for a second. "... sometimes I just want to get out of town for a while."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Destiny is also a thing. But Kanae had accounted for destiny before. This... with this Homunculus, that's different, it changed things in a way she coudln't count on.

"Mm-hm."

"Yes," Kanae says. "I bet you would."

"It's just... The kind of people who use this 'power' to solve their everyday problems, we end up fighting them mostly, right? So look at it that way."

Still...

"I can get that," she says. "Maybe you should. There's stuff you can do on weekends, right? Places not that far out. Even on a student's budget."

She looks back. "Not everything's working against you."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
It is a very weird, and very strange common experience to have with someone, that's for sure.

"Yeah... I know. Don't worry, I'm not gonna go, like, try to rob a bank or something." Besides, 'lack of money' isn't really the issue for her.

A student's budget. Kazusa won't point out what the differences in their budgets are.

But not everything's working against her. "I know, I know... you're my friend now, and I'm... really glad you are."

It takes the machine beeping at her to make her lift her head off of it and to grab her coffee, before quickly moving to fall into step with Kanae. She takes a long sip, letting the caffeine fill her system.

She's silent for a long moment, until... "Let's go on a trip!" she blurts out. "Tomorrow. We'll leave school, jump on a bullet train, go somewhere there's a really good onsen and just... unwind."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"I know," Kanae assures Kazusa. "But that's what I mean--the reason our Personas can't solve our problems in the real world is that there's lines we won't cross. ...if you look at it that way, it's kind of a good thing. It means we haven't lost track of who we are with them."

Kanae has more budget than the average student, too--she can afford her own apartment--but... she can't access most of the money set aside for her. Kanae knows Kazusa has even more than ''taht''. and--

She smiles back. "Yes?" Kanae asks. "I'm happy you think so. Likewise, too. I'm a little low on friends these days..."

but--eh?

"A trip?" Kanae wonders, and tilts her head. "...Huh. I mean, I know I was just saying..."

She thinks about it. "That ''does'' sound nice," Kanae reflects. "I could stand to get out of here."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"I'm still trying to figure out who I'm supposed to be... but yeah, I know there's lines for these kinds of things."

Kazusa doens't like to admit it, but her funds can come with strings attached sometimes... so it's not free and clear for her, either, depending.

Low on friends. "... mood," she admits, after a moment. Though she's startig to build her friend counter slowly but surely.

Or at least the 'people she can have a civil conversation with' counter.

But there's a small smile as Kanae agrees. "After class tomorrow we can... hop on a bullet train, go to... I dunno. Yugawara? I'll look up some reviews online. Go, soak, enjoy some seafood, get a good night's sleep, and take the train back in on Sunday. I can pay for everything."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"That's fine," Kanae says. "I'm just saying... You seemed worried about it, so."

Still, friends! And, well, "Sure," Kanae says. "Not like I have to ask my parents or anything." Yugawara... That makes sense. "OK, cool. But..." She can pay for everything, huh?

"Let me get dinner," she says. "I had enough of being 'along for the ride' with Touma. I want to contribute some if I can."

"Deal?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, I'm just... tryig to figure out what to do about the problems my Persona can't really solve." Kazusa shrugs a little, trying to convince herself it's no big deal.

She pauses as Kanae comments on not having to ask parents. Is that a... joke? Or a statement of fact? Kazusa's not sure how to respond to it. "... right."

But dinner is easier to think about. "Dinner?" she asks, looking a bit confused for a moment. "Uh... sure?" 'Along for the ride'. There's a puzzled frown as Kazusa considers it. "... well, okay. If that's what you want, sure."

She nods. "Deal."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"You and me both."

A joke? A statement? It could be both or either. Kanae doesn't really clarify for the moment. Instead, she focuses on, "Right. I'm just saying, I don't want a free ride all the way; i want to go somewhere as friends, not just as your guest, even if it means we don't go somewhere as nice."

"Thanks," she says. "Then, let's have at. It'll be fun. I might have to take care of a couple things after school tomorrow first, but... soon as we can go, we can go."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa tries not to gripe about her family issues to Kanae. It's the least she can do after realizing she was orphaned.(This may or may not be a viable long-term plan, but... at least she's trying to be considerate.)

But Kanae explains further, and Kazusa considers her for a moment. "... okay. As friends, then. That... sounds kind of nice, honestly."

It'll be fun. "... Yeah. I could use some more fun in my life." A couple of things. "Same here. I'll text you the details later after I look some things up."

"Looking forward to it, Kanae-chan."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-06: Mademoiselle

2026-10-16T22:56:04Z

Talnora: Lucien is on the case!

*'''Log: Mademoiselle'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Remi Ryuuja]]
*'''Where:''' Le Chat Marron
*'''OOC Date:''' October 06, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Sunday, January 20, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''On Coming of Age Day, Shinobu learned that Remi works at Le Chat Marron and was encouraged to go see her in action. And so she does. Remi puts on her best performance for Shinobu.''

----

(|============================== Le Chat Marron ==============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
Take a left off the streets of Electric City, then down a stairway, and you'll
find a door with a frosted glass window labeled 'Le Chat Marron'. On the side is
a menu stand listing the seasonal offers and any specials.

Inside, one will be greeted by a cozy but elegant cafe setting with a vaguely
European Old World feel. The white walls are accented by dark wood wainscot half
panels, above which are framed posters of turn-of-the-century lithographs from
European artists such as Jules Chéret, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Alphonse Mucha.
There's a bar against one wall, with various bottles set against a mirrored
display. Lighting is kept bright enough to portray the place as elegant, while
also being dim enough to feel cushy.

You'll be attended to by a butler of your choosing, though who is available
largely varies from day to day. Unlike many cafes, the butlers may be female or
male, and their theme, while in keeping with the general turn of the century
European feel, can run the gamut otherwise, as will their quality, acting, and
ability to speak English (or any other language, for that matter). Really, it's
more likely you'd be here for the desserts, savory snacks, teas, and fancy
drinks (non-alcoholic, as this is an all-ages cafe!) than the butlers, but there
is a certain appeal to being called 'ojou-sama', 'danna-sama', or 'bocchama'. If
your butler is particularly good, you just may feel like a member of the upper
class!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>On Coming of Age Day, Umie and Remi spoke of the place they work, and suggested that Shinobu visit at some point. Well, right now, she has the free time, so she decides that it's time to make good on that promise.

Shinobu steps through the doors of Le Chat Marron and feels almost immediately out of place. The fancy look is definitely a little at odds with her usual casual appearance... She massages the back of her neck awkwardly. It does look a little more relaxed than she'd suspect, though. Maybe that's fine.

She moves toward whoever's responsible for reception.

"Hey, I'm looking for, uh..." Shinobu starts, trailing off. Wait, don't people who work at places like this sometimes use an alias when serving customers? "...Shoot, I don't think she gave me her name."

She doesn't even know if she ''does'' use one here... So she continues, but lowering her voice a little.

"...Ryuuja?" She asks. Maybe the person she's looking for will come bail her out...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
It is pretty nice, but still accessible--and really, isn't being a little upscale-looking lal part of the fantasy anyhow?

But Remi ''definitely'' uses a name when working here, and as the receptionist tries to cover. "Well-- I am afraid we do not have anyone here by that name--", one of the servers comes up and lightly clears her through, offering a small bow. "Ahh, my most sincere apologies. I failed to inform you that my guest, Mademoiselle Shimizu, would be arriving today."

The person who just stepped up is, well, a butler, but not so much like ''Remi''. A short, light brown wig, contouring makeu, a dark black tailcoat over a crisp white shirt and a forest green vest, black slacks, and polished black shoes. She's also wearing white gloves and there is a chain for a pocketwatch trailing out of a vest pocket.

But there's still those warm eyes with the green flecks in them that is unmistakably Remi. And she's smiling warmly, clearly enjoying herself.

Remi steps forward, giving a smooth bow. "You are right on time, ojou-sama. Please forgive my lapse in attention to detail." Standing upright, she offers. "My name is Lucien. In my native tongue, it means 'Light', and it is my privilege to bring a little light into your day. May I take your coat? And then I can escort you to your table."

She's really throwing herself into the roll, at least, and seems to have no problem making direct eye contact with Shinobu, speaking in a smooth, warm, lower register.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>The receptionist tries to cover, and Shinobu doesn't blame them. There's a responsibility to keep, after all. But thankfully, she isn't left waiting long. One of the servers approaches - and if it wasn't for her words, Shinobu doesn't think she would've recognized her. She looks like a completely different person. She ''sounds'' different, too. The transformation is honestly impressive.

"Wow. Looking good." She comments. She shakes her head, then, at the apology. "Hey, it's all good. I didn't think to ask."

'Ojou-sama'... She's not sure she's going to get used to that, but it's all part of the theatrics. She can play along.

"Oh, sure." Shinobu replies, removing her coat and offering it over. "Shall we?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
It is, indeed, part of the game... but if Shinobu isn't responding to ojou-sama, Lucien will happily switch back to... "Thank you, Mademoiselle." She'll take the coat and hang it, and then elegantly lead Shinobu to her table.

Whereupon he'll politely pull the chair out for her. "Please, allow me, if you would."

He shifts around the table next once that's done. "It is such a pleasure to have you here today. Would you like some time to look at the menu? I can also tell you about today's specials, if you would like."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Lucien thanks her and Shinobu nods, following as she's lead to a table.

"Oh, thanks." She replies with a nod, settling into the offered chair. The menu... "Sure, that'd be great."

But at the same time, she ''is'' curious to hear what Lucien would suggest.

"Wouldn't mind hearing about those specials, either. What's good?" She replies, leaning back in her chair. She ''did'' do some research before coming here. She has a general idea of what she might like, but it couldn't hurt to hear more.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Lucien will provide a menu, of course, just in case. But he smiles warmly as Shinobu takes an interest in the specials. "Of course. For a day like today.. might I recommand the chef's platter? A warm chai spiced tea, to chase the chill from your bones, an immaculately prepared croque monsieur sandwich, and a dessert of your choice."

"Of course, if you simply wish to skip to the desserts, I would understand," Lucien says with a wink. "Life is too short to hold one's self back, is it not?"

"And if tea is not to your taste... perhaps I could mix you up a cocktail or a drink, instead?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu does take a glance through the menu - but Lucien's suggestion ''is'' appealing. Shinobu 'hm's thoughtfully, thinking it over.

"That ''does'' sound pretty good." She considers - and then laughs, at his suggestion. Skipping straight to dessert, huh...?

"Hey, why not? I'll live a little." She replies with a shrug. "I'll take a slice of today's cake. And... I think I ''will'' have a cup of that tea."

That ''does'' sound like just the thing for these cold winter days... and she's pretty sure the cocktails here are non-alcholic.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Lucien chuckles warmly as Shinobu opts for skipping straight to dessert. "Oui, Mademoiselle. It warms my heart to see you so willing to indulge yourself. I must leave you for a spell, but know that I will return as soon as I am able." Remi takes the menu, and then vanishes into the back kitchen.

She'll put the order in, and cehck on her other tables, of course, but soon enough, she's back, carrying a delicately balanced tray, which she carefully sets down on the table.

"I hope I did not keep you waiting too long? Though we had to be apart, my thoughts were ever of returning to you." She sets out a saucer and tea cup, and with a careful, steady hand fills it with a warm, aromatic spiced tea.

"Do you take anything with your tea, Mademoiselle?" Lucien asks, ready with milk, sugar, or honey.

Once that's ready she sets the saucer into place, and then, it's time for the dessert. "Today's cake is more of a custard--but it is one that comes with a show, so I hope you will not mind."

It's a ceraminc dish filled with a set custard. From a small dish Remi begins to sprinkl some brown sugar. "How much would you like, my dear?"

And once that's done. "I entreat you to wait but a few moments longer..." And out comes a small blowtorch. She works it with a calm, steady hand, as the sugar begins to bubble and caramelize. With a click the blowtorch is turned off, and Remi presents the finished dessert with a spoon. "I do hope it is to your liking. Do not be afraid to call upon me if you need ought else."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Lucien chuckles, and Shinobu smirks. She nods, though.

"Sounds good." She replies. She settles back into her chair as she waits - and before long, Remi returns.

"Smooth. But nah, you're all good." Shinobu remarks with an approving nod. That smooth line might even have worked on her - but mysteriously, it's less effective coming from Lucien. She can still appreciate the artistry involved, though.

As for what she'll take with her tea...

"Hm... Why not, let's try some honey. Experiment a little." Shinobu decides with a shrug. She's never tried that before...

And now, dessert! Shinobu raises an eyebrow.

"Now you've got me curious." She replies with interest. Remi produces a custard, and sprinkles some brown sugar. After a moment... "That looks good."

She nods when asked to wait, and is ''briefly'' surprised when Remi presents a blowtorch. The sugar is lit, and Shinobu lets out an appreciative whistle.

"That's actually pretty cool. I guess a lotta things are better when you set 'em on fire." She remarks. The custard is set before her. "I'm sure it will be. And, I will, thanks."

She takes up the spoon, takes a bite, and...

"...Hey, this is pretty good."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Smooth is, of course, the entire point of Remi's character here. But if it didn't work as well because it came from Lucien, well, more's the shame.

"But of course, Mademoiselle..." Lucien gets the honey ready. "Though of course, the honey..."

Lucien's voice doesn't slip entirely, but there's something a little bit more Remi in it as she finishes, "... is nowhere as sweet as you, my dear."

But there is a broad grin as Shinobu whistles for the blowtorch. "A rather dazzling show, and, I hope, a little bit of delight that will carry you through the day."

"Of course. Though I would caution--it is ''also'' quite warm, as well. I would hate to see you burn your tongue."

Lucien steps back, hands folded neatly behind her as he waits for the reaction. "I am glad it is to your liking. Please, do let me know if there is anything else I might provide."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Lucien prepares the honey. And then Remi's voice shifts into something a little more familiar - and that ''does'' get Shinobu to pause briefly.

Fortunately, there's a show.

"Yeah, I think it will. Thanks." Shinobu replies with a nod. She grins, then. "Hey, don't worry. I'm tough."

She pauses for a moment.

"...Buuut I think I ''will'' give it a sec before I go in for another bite." She decides.

She nods, as Lucien expresses being glad. And if there's anything else...

"Nah, I think I'll be good. Thanks." She offers. And after a moment... "...But if you had time to sit down and chat for a bit, I wouldn't say no."

But she won't object, either, if Lucien has other customers to get to.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
If 'Lucien' smiles just a bit more at that pause, surely it must be a coincidence.

Shinobu is tough! Lucien laughs softly at that, "Of course, of course. Please, I do not wish to imply that you are otherwise. I would hate for something so tender as a tongue or a lip to come to harm."

But she'll wait after all. "Of course."

There's a request, and Lucien pauses. His eyes flick over to scan the rest of the floor--everything seems quiet, and nobody signals him when he catches their eyes (along with a flash of a warm smile, of course).

"While I would love to grant you your request, I am afraid I must remain on my feet... but I ''can'' still spare a moment to spend with you." Lucien smiles... and kneels right there next to the table.

Technically, he's not sitting. Lucien lowers his voice, "Tell me, Mademoiselle. What else might I provide for you? I know of a lovely poem or two that I could recite for you, if you wish?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Nah, no offence taken." Shinobu assures with a shake of her head.

Lucien takes in her request and Shinobu watches as he, presumably, checks to confirm whether or not he's needed. The answer seems to be 'no' - but he does say that he must remain on his feet.

...So instead, he ''kneels''. Shinobu pauses and blinks, and then he offers to recite a poem or two.

Shinobu laughs, awkwardly massaging the back of her neck. Not quite what she had in mind... That might be a little ''too'' much for her.

"Uh, I think I'm good there, but thanks..." She replies. "I guess, uh, I was curious what you liked about this job...?"

Lucien does seem pretty into the role... Getting into character like this must be no small feat.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Lucien is silent for a moment, watching as Shinobu massages the back of her neck. Hmmm. Okay, ''definitely'' time to recalibrate.

"Of course, Mademoiselle," Lucien smoothly demurs. But what does he enjoy about the job? "Why, nothing so less as the chance to honor the grace and elegance that comes before me."

... That's definitely a 'Lucien' answer. It's a bit hard for Remi to give her own answer, at the moment. (Though... it's not entirely untrue for her, as well.)

"But... if I may be so bold as to ask, was there something you were hoping for, from our time together, that I have not yet thought to provide?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Lucien demurs, and Shinobu relaxes just a little. And the answer he gives is...

...Well, maybe she should've expected that. It's a smooth answer. Grace and elegance, though...

...No wonder she feels out of place.

"That makes sense." Shinobu considers thoughtfully. Lucien asks, then, if there was something she was hoping for that he has yet to provide... She 'hm's to herself, leaning back a bit. She taps her spoon idly against the custard. It's something she has to think about for a second.

"I think I was just interested in seeing what kinda work you did here." She comments. "...And maybe figuring out a little more what makes you tick."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi would be disappointed to know how out of place Shinobu feels... but on the other hand, maybe she can read the writing on the wall, considering how Shinobu has reacted.

There may have been a miscommunication, or a difference of expectations. They can talk that out more fully later, certainly.

Well, Shinobu's certainly seen a lot of what Remi does, but for the latter question... Lucien leans in, so he can lower his voice some more, but it's more Remi's voice that murmurs quietly. "... and have you figured anything out, my dear Mademoiselle?"

... It's not ''too'' far of a stretch to get to 'Lucien' from 'Remi', as it happens.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>She's seen a lot, certainly - and it's all been pretty impressive. She has to respect Remi's talent for being able to wear the role with such ease.

Lucien leans closer but it's Remi's voice that she hears, in a quiet murmur.

"...I think I've got a better understanding, yeah." Shinobu decides, after a moment of thought. "And the service ''was'' excellent."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
There are many roles Remi must play, but at least this one is a positive one.

But when Shinobu says the service was excellent it's Remi smiling, not Lucien, for just a moment. "I live to serve, Mademoiselle. And if, perhaps, I was able to bring some cheer to your day, then I am glad of it."

And then Remi slips back into Lucien, though there's a twinkle in her eye as she leans back upright again. "What else would you care to know about me, my enchanting guest?"

There's a quick glance just to make sure nobody else is trying to signal her, but she is still trying to give Shinobu some individualized attention... even if she's dialed back 'Lucien', sensing he isn't resonating with Shinobu in the way he does with her other clients.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Yeah, this has been fun." Shinobu replies with a nod. It got a little awkward there for a moment, sure - but it wasn't anything she couldn't bounce back from.

Remi leans back upright, and asks if there's anything else she'd care to know.

"Right now? I think I'm satisfied." Shinobu decides. Any more talk would probably be better saved for outside of her place of work. "But, this has been good. Thanks, Lucien."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi is glad that, at the very least, she didn't spoil the whole experience, despite the awkwardness.

She will certainly be up for talking later on, when she can speak a little more freely.

"I am glad to hear, Mademoiselle." With a graceful rise, Lucien stands, and then bows once more. "I ''do'' hope you enjoy your tea and dessert. Please do not hesitate to call on me should you need anything else."

And with that she'll make the rounds to attend to her other clients.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-30: Shimokitazawa Shopping Surprise

2026-10-16T02:43:45Z

Talnora: Here the ramifications are immediate.

*'''Log: Shimokitazawa Shopping Surprise'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Ann Takamaki]]
*'''Where:''' Shimokitazawa - Street Scene
*'''OOC Date:''' September 30, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Thursday, January 17, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Ann and Kazusa are both engaging in retail therapy, albiet for different reasons. They haven't spoken in a while, but when they run into each other in a store (figuratively and almost literally, a long overdue talk happens. Kazusa confesses a wrong, Ann calls out Kazusa for her past deeds... but then, shopping ensues.''

----

(|======================= Shimokitazawa - Street Scene =======================|)
-================================================ Tokyo/Shimokitazawa Ward ====-
Shimokitazawa is a neighborhood of densely-packed buildings near the
Shimo-Kitazawa Station, where the Odakyu Electric and Keio Inokashira lines
intersect. The winding alleyways and smaller spaces for shops and venues have
kept away the big-money chains, leaving space for dozens of small and
independent fashion shops to sprout up, cozily tucked and intermingled with
bars, cafes, live music venues and theaters.

The narrow streets of Shimokitazawa can be confining, especially when there is a
crowd; the shops have colorful signs, and offer a panoply of experiences, each
of them striving to radiate a vision of their own kind of cool. A crisp and
efficient tile-and-straight-edges men's clothier sits across from a
heavily-tagged used clothing shop. The streets stay lively at night, with music
belting out to the lonely hearts of the big city from dozens of hole-in-the-wall
jazz bars and rock venues. In summer, dance festivals trail throughout the
narrow streets, bringing back a traditional vibe... until the next day, of
course.

Local landmarks include the station itself; the Matsuda Theater, a 400-seat
venue that has helped drive the boom in smaller-scale theater throughout the
neighborhood; and the not-too distant Gotoku-ji temple, famous for its vast
collection of beckoning maneki-nekos, each of them enshrined in a place of honor
on the temple grounds.

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa should be holed up in her studio for safety. She knows this. It's more tolerable at home, safer than being on the street where a certain monster in human flesh can spot her, and yet...

Even she can get sick of cooping herself up in there sometimes. And with school being so utterly abysmal as she tries to keep stone face around the monster in her classroom... she needs a release.

She needs ''shopping''.

And so she is here, trying to keep a low profile. A low profile that includes glancing over her shoulder every now and again to furtively scan the store.

But for the moment, her attention is fixed on two different dresses as she tries to compare them. She herself is dressed in a dusty pink coat over a long red dress, dark tights, ankle boots.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
Finals were a bitter, bitter struggle.

Things have gone completely sideways with Morgana, seemingly out of nowhere.

This Homunculus problem just seems to be getting worse and worse and, on a personal level, this newest one... makes Ann Takamaki both deeply uncomfortable, and deeply angry.

And to make it all worse, the school year has started again, and Makoto will surely be watching her grades like a hawk. Like a hawk!! So. It's time to turn over a new leaf. It's time for a better, more vigilant Ann Takamaki!

"Shoppiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing~!"

... after she's done with her shopping.

LOOK.

Things are rough! She needs her outlets! And nothing can compare to the sweet feeling of making purchases, ''in person''.

It's that dopamine rush that Ann Takamaki is hunting for as she arrives at one of the many small-scale independent boutiques that dot the Shimokita landscape that Kazusa is currently occupying, bags slung on the crook of one arm and a look of effervescent joy bubbling to the surface of her fair features. Now, it's not like she has a ''problem'' with chain stores - she likes them quite a bit in fact, especially when she's going bargain hunting! - but when you're in need of a good splurge that will give you something quality, something bespoke, something ''unique'' that will be decidedly ''yours''? There's no better place for that right now to her than Shimokita.

Her long platinum blonde hair done up in a messy-yet-stylish bun, a scarlet, double-breasted maxi coat and a thick white scarf bundled high around her neck help keep her warm; the thigh-length black dress, semi-sheer, and cute black ankle boots? Those are for keeping her ''fabulous''.

She hasn't ''quite'' noticed Kazusa yet, considering the other girl is being discreet, but Ann is... well...

"Shopping shopping shopp-ing! Shopping shopping shopp-ing~!"

... not.

she's just not.

So it should be easy to spot her!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa doesn't know what a Morgana is, but she ''is'' worried about Kasumi, whose struggles are a lot deeper than she ever realized--and with seemingly no clear solution in sight.

... The fact that Kazusa maybe actually ''cares'' about her is its own kind of frustration, in a weird way, but she's stubbornly pushing forward with the support anyway. Because maybe that's the time of thing a decent person would do.

But yes, the Homunculus ''is'' deeply upsetting.

'Bargains' aren't usually something Kazusa has to worry about. Well, not for ''clothes'' anyway. Her father doesn't bat an eye at her clothing purchases for... some very distressing and upsetting reasons she's never really managed to vocalize toanybody.

But lucky her that something she likes to do is also an 'acceptable' activity for a girl to do, as far as her father is concerned.

(It's not fine.)

Her long straight black hair is, as always, well-conditioned, but styled in a way so that it doesn't look styled. And while she doesn't have a scarf, the coat she's wearing ''does'' have high sleeves that she can use to hide her face. (Which isn't hidden right ''now'', of course, since she doesn't want to look like a creep in a boutique store.)

But she is considering two dresses, and neither of them seem to be keeping her attention, as her thoughts keep drifting. Shaking her head, she puts them back and picks up her own bags. "Ugh."

She wanted to get out, and now she can't even focus on the thing she wanted to do. What's wrong with her? She moves to leave, turning a corner around a set of racks--

and almost walking wright into Ann! She makes a startled noise and pulls herself back. "H-hey, watch it--" she starts to say, but the rebuke dies just as quickly as she sees who it is.

"T-Takamaki-san..." her eyes widen in surprise. It's been a few months since she called off their regular Yoga sessions, offering to let Ann use the place she'd recommended and finding another one for herself.

And having finally run into her again, she's not sure what to say.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
Shop-ping! Shop-ping! Shop-"

This is the mantra of Ann Takamaki ready to engage the world of FASHION.

TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR: Ann is absolutely not looking where she's going. She's got shopping fever! Who can pay attention to anything when the fever hits them?! Therefor, Ann absolutely does NOT see MYSTERY SHOPPER K as she rounds the corner until she is suddenly RIGHT INSIDE HER PERSONAL SPACE LIKE A MASTER THIEF.

Ergo:

"Shop-GACK?!"

This is the mantra of Ann Takamaki not ready to meet a tragic end.

They almost collide. Almost. Noticing the sudden presence of someone else breaching her bubble, Ann's sky blue eyes fly wide and she suddenly, gracefully wheels (flails) backward, bag-totting arm going wide with the dangerous mace-swing of those packages that just narrowly avoids disastrous collisions of their own as Ann stumbles --

and bumps against the door JUST as it closes, meaning she, thankfully, does NOT go barreling out of the store again, ass-over-teakettle. Instead, she just kind of -- jostles the door open again before she grips the handle and halts herself.

*ding-ding-ding*

goes the welcoming bell as Ann, recovering, lets out an earnest if hectic, "I'm ''so seriously'' sorry, are you okay?! You didn't drop anything, did you?? I'm SO Motojima-san?!"

Ann Takamaki stalls out for a second as those wide, blue eyes fixate on a familiar face. The second passes.

"--I-I mean, I'm not Motojima-san! YOU'RE Motojima-san!!"

And thus Ann is left in an awkward position where her brain briefly blanks and then soars at a thousand thoughts a second.

Thank god she clarified first.

She stands there, for a moment, thoughts running rampant. It'd been a while since they talked. Ann figured that after everything, Kazusa needed space -- she understood that well enough, and was happy to give her that space without comment. Because, after all... she understood, better than most, what Kazusa was going through. But what could she actually say to HELP with that?

"Oh hey Motojima-san, I totally know what you're going through.
I'm so relieved you kicked that weird brain monster out of your brain realm!"
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Duh! Because I'm a Phantom Thief obviously~!"

[ X ]
B A D !

yeah no that's out.

She hesitates for a second. For a single second, before a friendly smile tugs on bubblegum pink lips. She inches forward from the door and leeeeans in on her tiptoes, brows raising and eyes widening with cheerful, conspiratorial curiosity. She knows that there's nothing she could say about all of ''that''. But she knows how Ren helped her. And part of that was...

"Soooooo. Going ''shopping''?"

... treating interaction with her like it was normal, and that it didn't have to be anything but that, no matter who she was.

It's something that Ann has taken to heart.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
To be perfectly fair to Ann, Kazusa was also really distracted in that moment. (But she was still somewhat aware of her surroundings. Or, perhaps, a bit hyperaware.)

She had a scathing remark queued up by reflex, (sad as she finds that now), but when she sees Ann's flailing reaction her own purple eyes open wide in alarm. "Wh--"

It takes her a moment to see the pattern of what is unfolding, and the door catches Ann, but then it starts t ''open'' again, and she steps forward to extend a hand and try to help stabilize the situation. "H-hang on--"

Because Ann is apologizing, Kazusa is blaming ''herself'', for potentially hurting someone, even if this time it was entirely accidental.

'I'm SO Motojima-san?!'

Kazusa immediately draws up short, hand awkwardly left half-extended, suddenly uncertain of the gesture. Then the clarification comes, and Kazusa can only nod. "Y-yeah..."

By the same token, how can Kazusa actually ''explain'' herself to someone she doesn't know is informed about the Supernatural? She was a bully, she's trying not to be (and stopping bullying is one thing, being a ''better person'' though is a lot harder, and an ongoing struggle.)

(Surprisingly, that Phantom Thief secret might actually be safer with her than one might expect. But no, best not to test your luck.)

Once it was clear that Ann was not about to fall through the door Kazusa let her hand drop to her side. She instead backed up a step as Ann leaned forward. "Uh... y-yeah, I was just... leaving. Are you okay?"

She still looks troubled, for reasons far beyond this one awkward encounter.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa is obviously worried. Ann can understand why. Beyond just the issue with the Homunculus -- she knew the other girl's reputation. She knows how Kazusa reacted to Ann's eclectic group of friends, Ren especially, during the fireworks that night.

And she knows what she saw in the principal's Palace, too.

She isn't oblivious; she knows the type of person Kazusa is, or was. The kind of person who would have been right along with all the other girls, spreading rumors about how promiscuous she must be.

And yet, to Ann, even if she could clock those things about Kazusa, mostly what she seemed to her was...

... sad.

It's still there, when Ann looks at the other girl with those wide, blinking eyes. Drawing shopping backs closer to the crook of her elbow with the casual roll of her shoulder, she regards Kazusa with a thoughtful - but smiling - expression as the heiress answers her. "Ohhh. Just leaving, huh... hm..." Ann murmurs to herself, as if this was pertinent information to... ''something''. Whatever it is, it's tabled for the moment as Kazusa asks that single question.

Are you okay?

Ann blinks. Her head tilts, her expression blithely oblivious. "Of course," she answers easily enough. "Why wouldn't I be?"

As if it was obvious. As if her almost having a very bad spill doesn't even factor in. Out of sight, out of mind, she's already put it all behind her. Is this the power of Ann Takamaki--?

Before an answer can come to what may well be a rhetorical question, Ann takes a step forward, regarding Kazusa with pursed lips.

"Are ''you'' okay?"

Ostensibly, about the run-in, that Ann has already just kinda shrugged off.

Ostensibly.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
And even beyond the issues with her own Homunculus, or what Ann was able to observe directly... Kazusa hasn't escaped the school's rumor mill etirely. Right at the beginning of second semseter, there had been talk about her father catching her out in cosplay at a convention and all but dragged out by him.

... And then she had come to school a radically different person.

Make of that what you will.

(That's to say nothing of Shinichi('s Homunculus) slamming her against a wall during finals week and threatening to make her go down ''dogeza'' style to apologize for her past misdeeds...)

Still, Ann's observation isn't wrong. Despite being widely known her actual, genuine social circle is vanishingly small, and always has been. But that's how she conducted herself at school, pushing others away to protect her secrets.

And those secrets came out anyway.

Kazusa looks rather taken aback as Ann so casually dismisses what just happened. ''Why wouldn't she be?'' "You... almost fell out the door?" If that statement sounds uncertain it's only because Kazusa is confused that she's having to explain this to the operson ''it just happened to''.

"Yeah, I'm... fine." She definitely isn't. Except from this near run-in. She's trying to figure out what to say next, but it's proving extraordinarily difficult.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
For very understandable reasons, Ann Takamaki has nothing but contempt for the Shujin rumor mill.

Unfortunately, it's hard /not/ to hear the rumors flying around the school, even if you have no interest in them. Some students practically feel like they just stand at corners 24/7 shouting the freshest rumors into the void sometimes! So, for reasons both obvious and not, Ann's heard what people whisper about Kazusa.

Frankly, it's only deepened Ann's impression of her.

So past that momentary potentially disastrous gaff is Ann in the here and now, though, that she does not even so much as give passing thought to Kazusa's very understandable and slightly bewildered explanation to Ann's largely rhetorical question. Nope! Ann just isn't seeing it, and besides, she's moved on!

To KAZUSA!

The blonde considers Kazusa for a few quiet, contemplative seconds as the darker-haired girl answers. 'I'm... fine.' Ann can't - and does not - mask the incredulity that paints her expressive features at that answer, from the arch of a brow to the sidelong-glance she affords Kazusa, to the prolonged, thoughtful, "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..." that escapes pursed lips. She's not buying it. Obviously.

And yet... she doesn't seem to push it, either. Instead, before awkward silence can even threaten to settle its comfortable presence on the proceedings, Ann suddenly turns, arms folding over her chest as she regards the store she had only just entered.

"Welllll," she begins, "I was gonna suggest we shop together for a bit, but if you're done here..."

That sentence trails. Lingers. Like it might suggest that Kazusa should just move on, and they should go their separate ways--

"-- I guess we'll just have to find a new shop to go to!"

Ann proclaims instead,

grinning such an infectiously warm grin that it squeezes her eyes shut with the sheer mirth of it.

But didn't she literally just get here--?

"Where were you thinking of going next??"

Once again, Ann of the present has no time nor consideration for Ann of the past. That was like thirty seconds ago or something! Besides...

... she thinks this is more important.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa hasn't been such a big fan of it recently either. And yet... it still persists. She used to weaponize it, even, though she hasn't partaken as much as of late.

It's still hard to disconnect completely, though. It's kind of a survival thing that she still has going.

For the second time she flinches back, as she sees that scrutiny on Ann's face. "What's that look for?" Did Ann see through her half-hearted answer? Is she being ''judged''? Kazusa wouldn't blame Ann for it. (She may be biased towards expecting negative outcomes. That's also something she' working on.)

(She's working on a lot, as it happens.)

Ann starts a declaration, and trails off. Kazusa can read the room, she thinks, and just nods. "You... don't have to do that." She steps to the side, like she's making to get to the door. "I'll just--"

'-- I guess we'll just have to find a new shop to go to!'

Kazusa tenses, and if her cheeks turn a little red as Ann beams that great big smile that squeezes her eyes shut--shut up, no they didn't. She quickly looks away. "Look, you... ''really'' don't have to do that."

But Ann keeps pressing ever forward, asking her what stop she was going to check out next. Kazusa's expression grows more troubled. "Please don't do that. You know I haven't exactly been great to your friends, right? And there's..."

She hesitates for a long moment before she forces herself to say it. "... I owe you an apology. When I approached you before I was mostly just... hoping to get fashion info out of you. I know that's kind of messed up, so... sorry. I'll leave now, uh... check out the rack in the corner, I think there's a few things there that'll compliment your skin tone."

And with that she starts to try to head to the exit again.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
You ''really'' don't have to do that.

Shifting about towards the exit with the smooth pivot of one well-heeled shoe, Ann Takamaki pauses as Kazusa, red-faced (don't worry; Ann's oblivious to such things except when ''truly'' inconvenient, for her or others), insists against a unified shopping strategy. Head cant to a leftward angle of cattish curiosity, those big blue eyes consider Kazusa curiously as she admits to her negative attitude and actions towards people who are Ann's friends -- and even towards her.

"..."

Ann's expression is an impassive thing as she regards Kazusa. It's hard to tell just ''what'' she's thinking of in those moments as Kazusa confesses and apologizes, either good ''or'' bad. She just... watches the other girl, for a few quiet seconds.

No; it's only when Kazusa says she'll leave, and makes that recommendation,

''... check out the rack in the corner, I think there's a few things there...''

"Great!"

That suddenly there's a red-colored silhouette brushing right past her,

"I'll totally circle back and check them out when we're done!"

and opening the door to the exit for them both with a jingle-jangle of the bell.

It'd be normal, really, in any other situation for someone to just quietly let Kazusa leave. Maybe chat up their friends about it after about how weird and random it all was. Maybe it wouldn't even be unwarranted, all considered.

And yet there is Ann, stepping outside into the chill of the winter air, as if fully intent to just bull past Kazusa's objections and engage on this shopping odyssey with someone who just admitted to wanting to use her.

She takes one step out, two. And then she stops, back to Kazusa, one hand settled on the straps of her purse. A few strands of platinum blonde fall free and dangle gently off that bun as she shoulders that purse closer.

"... You know? When I first came to Shujin in middle school, everyone was quick to make up nasty rumors about me because of how I looked. How I must have had a ton of boyfriends because I was 'foreign,' how I was so standoffish and rude to other girls. They trapped me in this... cage of things I ''must'' be, because of the color of my hair and eyes. I always hated people like that. People who said one thing to your face and another behind your back. I didn't ever want to be that kind of person."

Ann tilts her head until sharp, piercing blue eyes are looking at Kazusa from over one shoulder. No pretense or polite affectation. Just that calm, level stare.

"You ''were'' a jerk to my friends. To Yoshizawa-san. To a lot of people, I'm pretty sure. You did a lot of crappy things, and I don't know why you did them, but you did." She lets that linger there for a moment, before she continues on, voice level.

"... But I also know you've been trying to make it right with people. You stopped coming to yoga because you felt guilty. Right?" She doesn't talk about what that thing had been doing -- but maybe Kazusa will think Ann just assumes the Homunculus' actions were part of her efforts to 'change herself'.

"People have approached me for all kinds of ulterior motives, and most of them were for a whole hell of a lot lot grosser reasons than wanting insider fashion intel or whatever. And those people never even bothered to apologize, or feel guilty, or think that maybe what they were doing was wrong."

Ann shakes her head. And then she turns, to face Kazusa fully.

"So yeah. You were a jerk. But from where I'm standing, it looks like you're trying to be better. And I'd rather trust in that, than just assume the worst about you."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
(It's fine, Kazusa is still pretty oblivious herself.)

It's wide, troubled purple eyes that stare back in confusion as Kazusa continues to keep watching Ann. But she can't really look for long before her gaze drifts off to the side and down. She's supposed to know how social interactions like these go.

... right now she's so totally off the map she's struggling to make sense of things. So Anne's impassive expression makes it all the harder for her to get a handle on what's going on.

Meanwhile, Kazusa, who formerly used her Demon Queen status as a sort of shield to hold others at bay... is currently an open book. Uncertain, ashamed, scared...

And still lonely. But Ann's always picked up on that.

Kazusa flinches a bit when that udden 'Great!' comes, and she finally looks back at the declaration of circling back. "But you're already here--"

And all she can do is stare as Ann just holds open the door for the both of them. She has no idea what to do. If she stays, Ann can just stay. If she leaves, Ann seems intent on joining her, and she can't leave now without walking directly past Ann.

Asking didn't work. Admitting what she did didn't work. What does she have to do, just... make a run for it? The socially-aware part of her brain shuts that down immediately as drawing too much attention to herself, but it didn't have to work very hard to suppress that thought.

She steps out into that brisk air, and then turns to look at Ann. Waiting for the other girl to step out with. This situation is weird, and tense, and awkward... but it's still ''something''.

She quietly pushes a lock of hair back behind her ear, as she listens to Ann's tales of when she first started at Shujin middle. Kazusa might not have been ''so'' bad way back then, but... it didn't take her a long time to get there, under her father's unyielding pressure.

'You know?' Kazusa nods mutely. She does.

She was a jerk. And she was crappy to Ann's friends, and Kasumi, and many others. Kazusa nods silently again. She doesn't know why... Kazusa sighs, glancing away again. "... I could tell you why. But the reasons aren't very good. And it doesn't change the fact that... I'm still responsible for what I did."

The Yoga classes. Kazusa gives a slow nod. She's thinking Ann might believe the Homunculus' actions were an attempt to manipulate her or make herself appear more appealing... but she certainly isn't about to try to offer clarity.

And so she listens. Far grosser things, and none of them after apologized, or gave it second thought. She's not even sure how to feel, that her actions that feel so large ad looming in her own mind... might not even have been the worst thing to happen to Ann this school year.

Her face tightens as Ann says she wants to trust in the Kazusa who is trying, rather than believe the worst about her. "I wouldn't blame you if you did, though," she admits. She finally looks up, drawing in a shaky breath. "I ''am'' trying," she admits, in a tremulous voice. "But I'm still... angry, and impatient, and kind of a mess. I don't know if Niijima-senpai and I will ever see eye to eye, and my reputation at school..." She shrugs helplessly, unsure of how to finish that. An was just saying how the rumor mill treated her.

"... if... you're willing to put up with all that..." Her eyes search Ann's face, still searching for any signs of rejection, still unable to fully believe yet even as she makes that offer.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
''But you're already here--''

"Then it's something I know I have to look forward to! It's like, um, that psychology thing. Delayed ramification!"

Ann is very wrong about that psychology thing. Kazusa, however, is ''not'' wrong. There's no escape from this situation.

n o e s c a p e

But at least her certain doom is fashionably appointed and rocking a winning smile. Ill omens have never been so chic!

The point is: Ann is content to stay there until Kazusa makes her exit or resolves to stay, and the second she ''does'' walk out, so too does Ann, the shop bell tolling a sweet chime of farewell behind them.

One hand on her purse, the other hanging at her side, Ann relates her tale of her struggles at Shujin. It's something she wouldn't have said a word about before with someone she barely knows -- truth be told, only a handful of months ago she probably wouldn't be talking with Kazusa at all, given her own situation at school and knowing exactly the kind of person Kazusa was. But, well.

Times have changed. And now, Ann doesn't feel the same need to close off and protect herself that she did before.

She has Ren and the others to thank for that.

So she tells Kazusa, so that Kazusa knows exactly why she's willing to give her a second chance. And when Kazusa responds, first by saying the reasons don't change her culpability for her own actions, Ann says nothing at first. It's quiet confirmation; quiet ''affirmation''. It's the right mindset to have, if you're going to apologize for anything, Ann thinks: accepting responsibility.

As for the rest, well... sky blue eyes shut for a second. Ann lets out an exhale. And then she turns to face Kazusa fully, pulling strands of flowing platinum behind one ear to give it stability against the winter breeze buffeting her back as she speaks.

"People badmouthing you isn't the end of the world. Trust me," she chooses to address that unfinished thought about her reputation first, head cocking. "And maybe you and Makoto ''won't'' ever see eye-to-eye. Maybe she won't forgive you. And she's got every right not to. You're not entitled to anyone's forgiveness. Sometimes they just won't give it, and that's okay."

Ann considers Kazusa for a quiet moment. She ''is'' an open book right now, moreso than she ever was -- and certainly moreso than her Homunculus was. She can guess, just from that... ''thing''... and the way she's been acting today, some of the issues plaguing the other girl. But most of all:

"If you can deal with that and you're willing to keep trying despite it, and if you can handle the fact that I seriously will not hesitate to call you out on your crap if I ever catch you slipping..."

She knows, and has always known, Kazusa is lonely most of all.

So she puts forth her own conditions. And then, with a grin, offers a hand.

"... then let's get this shopping trip going already! There are ''so'' many good shops here--!"

Offers something other than the rejection Kazusa is searching for.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa stares at Ann for a moment and then looks askance for a moment. "... delated gratification," she comments, quietly. She kind of regrets saying it the moment after she does, though, since that's really not what's important right now.

The smiles of ill omens have never been so inexplicably distracting, either. But Kazusa's got enough to worry about without trying to acknowledge that.

Kazusa might not have reached out to Ann, either, if there hadn't been something she thought she could get out of it. Back ''then'', she needed to be able to justify her actions, to insulate herself.

... Now, though, times ''have'' changed. She's become far more aware of just how straining the way she's lived her life has been, and would rather spend it just... enjoying the things she likes. Which, unfortuantely, is ''still'' a lot harder than it feels like it should be sometimes.

She used to protect herself, similarly to ann, though her version of that involved a lot of tearing others down to keep herself on top.

... though in truth, it was never really the people at school she feared the most. And if Ann is surmising anything from how her Homunculus acted, then... she might be able to make a guess who that person is.

Still, she's trying to change, but she can't help second-guess every moment of silence, affirmative or not. She pulls her coat tighter against the wind as she waits pensively for Ann to respond.

Not the end of the world... Kazusa looks down for a moment. "... kind of feels like it," she admits in a small voice. "I'm not..." She shuffles uncomfortably. "... used to not being in control of my situation."

The situation with Makoto is complciated. Kazusa's not even sure how she'd explain--it's a tangled web, between her own past actions, the actions of the Homunculus, ''Makoto's'' actions toward the Homunculus, and what Kazusa believes but that Makoto refuses to confirm.

... frankly it's kind of a mess.

Ann remarks she's not entitled to Makoto's forgiveness. Kazusa nods quietly. "... yeah."

Maybe this, too, is something she deserves, after the things she's done.

Maybe that's a side effect of her Transmutation, intended or not: just as it exposes her True Self in cognitive spaces, it's also laid bare many things about herself to herself. Certainly, it leaves her more open to vulnerable moments like these.

There might be a flicker of a smile as Ann promises to call her out on her crap if she starts slipping. "... that's fair," she concedes quietly. "I think I can live with that."

It only hits her a moment later that she is, essentially, agreeing to this shopping trip by implication, and perhaps a new friendship, too.

Still, she stares at that hand for a moment, and listens to Ann decalre that the shopping trip should commence. She sighs and shakes her head. "Fine. Since you ''clearly'' aren't going to take no for an answer, I guess I have no choice."

Don't act like you don't want this too, Kazusa.

She stands a little straighter. and then starts to walk forward to join Ann properly. "Alright, where should we start?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
Don't worry.

There was absolutely zero chance that Ann Takamaki would have retained Kazusa Motojima's correction, even if she heard it.

She knows where her priorities are, and it's not in delayed rammification (gratification)!

Her priorities are also ''not'' in giving a good gosh darn what people think about her, either -- but having felt similar to Kazusa (if for wholly different reasons) when she first returned to Japan and felt that monumental pressure to conform to expectation, her brows ''do'' soften with the overall gentling of her expression as the other girl anxiously shuffles around that confession.

"Mmm." Ann exhales that musing sound slowly as she considers Kazusa. Her head cocks rightward.

"Then maybe focus on getting control of the stuff that really matters. Like the stuff that makes you happy," she suggests simply, with a blunt addendum:

"And tell all that other crap and what others think about it to go to hell."

Otherwise -- well, there's not much she can say about Kazusa's situation with Makoto, which seems... fraught, at best. One of those things that, maybe, they need to resolve on their own. ... or simply let stand where it may. For right now, Ann just focuses on the immediate moment, laying out her own terms. And when Kazusa agrees--

"Great! Then let's do this!"

she exclaims because yes Kazusa absolutely just negotiated her way into their shopping joint venture. Which is why she grins with such smug and cheery victory it squeezes blue eyes shut as Kazusa relents (to what was INEVITABLE).

"Hee hee. Uh huh, suuuuuuuuuure~."

She sees through you, Kazusa Motojima!

So, when Kazusa approaches, and asks where they should go first?

"Oh! Oh, this way! I saw the ''cutest'' boutique on the way to this place that does, like, artisanal hats and stuff!"

Ann's response is simply to take her by the wrist to pull her along towards a corner store down the street, to get swept up into the momentum that is

Ann Takamaki:

"And from there, I think we should ''totally'' go to this shop down the street that has the some really really great seasonal outfits - oh, and there's, like, a boutique with a real ''peacock'' here--"

FORCE OF SHOPPING NATURE

Survive this experience, Kazusa Motojima, and friendship is within your grasp...!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Maybe that';s another thing Kazusa will have to get used to: Ann not weating the small details.

... she might be a little bit jealous of someone who can live that way, honestly.

Kazusa, meanwhile, remains pensive, a bit contrite, uncertain... a far cry from the girl that once terrorized otherws without giving a concern.

Getting control of what makes her happy... Kazusa thinks of her art studio, saved by her brother's intervention, of her upcoming work working on Ryuji's food vlog, which she still isn't sure why it appeals to her but it's her chance to ''do'' something with her skills that's real...

And even just, starting to form real friendships for the first time in a long time, though that one';s still a struggle for her.

'And tell all that other crap and what others think about it to go to hell.'

Kazusa lets out an unexpected laugh as Ann says it so directly. It does loosen some of the tension in her body, even if she's shaking her head. "Iiii wish it were that easy, but... thanks."

Thinks with Makoto will... remain what they are for a while, probably. But if Ann is willing to be her friend, even knowing that one relationship is strained, well... maybe that's the best Kazusa can hope right now.

But the things that make her happy... she considers, for a moment, opening up about her artistic ambitions--

Only to have her thoughts derailed by that ''smile'' again, and the at the retort she huffs and glances away. "Sh-shut up!" But it has far less bite to it than it would have once upon a time.

She knows she's been caught out. She's still embarrassed by it.

And any chance of chasing her earlier train of thought go out the window as she's grabbed by the wrist and dragged along. She lets herself be pulled along, even laughing a little at Ann's enthusiamsm. "Oh the ''hat'' place, I know the one you're talking about!"

She's starting to get swept into it.

"Oh I've been ''dying'' for a new coat and--" A boutique with a live peacock. "Oh, yeah, I hear they're ''super'' exclusive though..."

But maybe this day will turn out okay after all.

Especially if it means making a new friend.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-13: Pairs with Croissants

2026-10-15T05:31:30Z

Talnora: It's a strange type of freedom...

*'''Log: Pairs with Croissants'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Remi Ryuuja]], [[Miho Ijuuin]]
*'''Where:''' Aoba - Main
*'''OOC Date:''' October 13, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Thursday, January 24, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Miho comes over to Remi's apartment to check for bugs, and while she's there, the two decide to chat. Remi presents coffee, preserves, and coffee to go with the chatter.''

----

(|=============================== Aoba - Main ================================|)
-=================================================== Sumaru City/Aoba Ward ====-
To Sumaru's east is Aoba Ward, where fashion and commerce abound. The city's
fire department headquarters is based here too. Ample shopping can be found at
the stores that dot Aoba Way. Past it, Aoba Park is a popular place to walk
around and relax, especially since there's an outdoor concert hall located
deeper within where one might catch a live concert.

Various programs are filmed at Sumaru TV, where famous stars like veteran
actress Junko Kurosu, talk show host Hidehiko "Brown" Uesugi, and popular model
Eriko "Elly" Kirishima might be spotted. Along the way, one will pass Kismet
Publishing, where popular publications like hot teen magazine Coolest are made.

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi has, by all accounts, a pretty nice apartment. It is nowhere ''near'' the luxury of Miho's penthouse, of course, but between her part-time work and, perhaps, some subsidizing from her friends, it's still nice. And when she's by herself (which is often), she tends to crank up the heat and shed some of the extra layers she needs to battle her body's faulty temperature regulation.

Today, is not one of those days. Today, she has a guest, so she's dressed head to toe and has the thermostat set to something more sane. Her expression is serious, arms crossed as she watches her friend Miho at work.

It's a rather fascinating thing to watch, at last for her. To see a side of her friend's expertise that doesn't rely on unsettling supernatural powers.

She'll follow Miho's lead on how to act during this sweep though, of course.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Any apartment in this building is at least Nice; Remi's has the benefit not only of being objectively a good apartment, but also Remi's good taste in decor. ...The heat necesary to keep her comfortable is something Miho doesn't complain about even when it isn't set to something more conventional for her benefit, though she is in shirtsleeves rather than wearing her jacket now--the jacket is over a chair, as Miho works to hunt through the aprtment for bugs.

Not insects; there are exterminators for those. ''Bugs'', surveillance equipment. Miho has gone through shelves, scanned walls, looked in vents and grates...

But eventually she seems satisfied. "You are safe," she says to Remi then, turning around and dusting her hands as she looks to her friend. "We may speak freely."

Really, it's just 'be quiet' during the sweep. Now it's done!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi got a hand in her home decorating skills from Yua, no doubt. Or at least, how to do home decor ''practically'', and on a modest income. She doesn't have access to her family's mansion money anymore.

... or at least, she didn't, until the new year hit, though she still hasn't really ''asked''. (It's fine, her parents have been hesitant to offer, too.)

Remi appreciates that Miho won't complain, though Remi prefers to at least keep up the facade of hospitality and normalcy when she can. She at least doesn't have on her extra outdoor layers.

Remi lets out a quiet exhale as Miho declares them safe. "My thanks, as always, Miho-chan." She gives her head a small shake. "What a thing to worry about... I am indebted to your skill and expertise, as always." She stands up from where she'd been leaning. "Can I get you anything to eat or drink, dear? I have some croissants I made yesterday."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho, of course, does have access to her family's mansion money. That's why she has the penthouse. ...But the family doesn't ''keep'' in mansion money by being extravagant without at least somet hought to cost.

(And Miho is glad enough to compromise on the temperature; she'd rather not have to strip down any further for comfort.)

Now, though...

"Of course," Miho says. "It is a consistent hazard of our 'advancement' among our mutual acquaintances..." Though at least Chizuru is unlikely to spy on them for compliance's sake, others certainly will look for advantage.

...Also, Miho's paranoid. The fact that ti's justified in her life now doesn't mean she isn't still paranoid.

"I would love one," Miho says. "A croissant and whatever you would pair."

Pause. "So how are you doing?" she asks. "Aside from bugs and conspiracies."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
A little bit of frugality can go a long way... though this isn't a leson Remi appreciated in grat depth until last year.

"Ah, yes, our 'advancement.'" Remi sighs, shaking her head. "Another advantage of our benefactor's 'benevolence.'" She shakes her head.

Remi will leave aside the question of Miho's paranoia for now. She does her best to be observant (she can't ''stop'' being observant sometimes) to try and give Miho as little cause for false alarm as possible.

But she smiles as Miho accepts. "Splendid. And if you are leaving the choice to me..." Remi considers. "I ''do'' have a nice coffee blend I've been meaning to try. Would that suffice?"

She heads to her kitchen, where she has three potted succulents on the window sill of her kitchen window. She starts the coffee to brew, then goes about getting two plates ready along with a few different spreads. "I'm doing as well as ever, I suppose..." she says, as she works. "My work is... rewarding enough, in its way, though I've had no luck with auditions."

She pauses for a moment. "... relations with my family, however, remain... fraught."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"Right," Miho answers. The matter of their relationship with Chizuru Ishigami is... complex; there is certainly an ''element'' of seeming 'benevolence', or something like it--but that is not all. One does not advance in such a conspiracy on purely good vibes and positive feelings.

The choice. "It would," Miho says. "I have long enjoyed your coffee." Miho follows along so as to keep up the conversation, and looks to the succulents thoughtfully.

Hmm.

"A chance to perform must be pleasant," Miho sys, "Even if it isn't the roles you want."

"...Would you like to talk about that?" MIho invites. Her own familial relations, well--

They're great. She has a son! Yua's health is fraught, but their ''relationship'' is as strong as ever.

...But she could use something to discuss that ''isn't'' Yua's health, too.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi will clarify the sarcasm for Miho later if she has to--but she is at least using a consistent tone of voice when she says it.

"That is kind of you to say, dear. I have a French import that..." She sighs. This brings up complicated feelings in her, and a feeling of longing. She considers France her home just as much as Japan, despite not having spent nearly as much time there growing up.

She shakes her head. "... it's very good. A gift, though, I do not mind sharing it."

She smiles at Miho. "... it is, it is," she reassures. "And a wonderful challenge, at that. Though... Well, it may sound childish, but there is very little chance for swordplay at the cafe."

Remi has, assuredly, been asking after Yua's health. But she could use a break from thinking about that, too, especially since there's nothing for her to do abou it, unless she wanted to threaten a doctr with a word.

... which would probably be very counterproductive.

"Mmm... I suppose." She puts the coirssants in the oven to warm them up, and then turns to look to Miho. ".... I scarcely know where to begin. In some ways it feels like no time at all has passed, and yet in others it feels like nothing is the same."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
It's cool. Miho totally got it.

A French import.... "Thank you then," Miho says. "It is all the more precious for that."

A good challenge--and... hmm. "Yes, I understand," Miho says. Swordplay is altogether different from the sorts of things they have to get up to for the Order. 'Play' being th operative word.

...Probably better not to threaten teh doctors.

"Mm," Miho says. "But time has passed," she says. "Clearly, since you have a younger brother, now."

"Have you discussed that much with them, yet? Or with him, for that matter?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Precious. Remi manages a small smile for Miho's sake. "It is, at that. And there are few I would share such a precious thing with."

... well, Yua would be one of them, but it's probably best for her to avoid excess caffeine for a while.

Indeed. Forced acting may have kept her acting skills sharp in the lab, but... no, the skills she employs in that work are rather different.

"... well, yes. And I am no longer the same person..." Remi sighs and brushes some hair back out of her face. "We have talked a little. But of course, what I am able to say is... very little. I have kept to the prepared cover story, of course."

A shake of her head. "Little Tamashi-kun is only two... the best I have been able to tell him is that I was away for a time, but that now I am back. Though he seems to accept me as his sister readily enough."

"But for my parents... I do not know what I am to them anymore. I am certainly not their heir, that much is certain. But I find I am not certian how to be their daughter, otherwise."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"I'm glad to be one of them." Despite everything.

Soon, they'll have Yua back. Miho intends to make sure of that. ...For now, though...

"None of us are the same person as we were, back then--you more than most, but the difference is in degree, not kind." She pauses. "...Which is to say, you should not isolate yourself even further as a result."

What she can say, what she can't say... "Of course," Miho says. "You do not want to get them involved in all this, if it can be helped..."

She nods. "The very young can be resilient in that way," MIho reflects. And vulnerable in others.

"And to ask is not the way of such families," Miho understands. "...It is difficult."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"Of course..." Isolating... it's rather easy for Remi to do that, sometimes. "Mmm." She holds out her hand, palm open, and then makes a fist. "The things they did to me... it is... difficult, to trust myself around other people sometimes."

She lets out a hollow lauigh. "I was talkinga bout dating with a friend the other day. How am I supposed to maintain a relationship?"

"Heavens, that is the last thing I wish for them." Her family and the NWO... no, perish the thought.

Asking. Remi sighs. "Yes. Which makes discussing things all the more difficult, non?" She's silent for a moment. "... he's the spitting image of my father. I should think he will have... a much easier time of things, when it comes time for him to run the company."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"Yes," Miho says. "...You worry what you might do. That you will lose control. I cannot alleviate this worry. ...But should it come to pass, I will help as best I can."

Dating? "Should you be alone forever, because of what they did?" Miho wonders. "It is difficult, but perhaps it is worth trying."

Perish the thought.

"I see... That sounds as if it works out very well for them. But if they had no place for you, they could have said so; the normal thing to do..."

She considers. "Ordinarily, in a situation like yours, if theyw anted to go around you they'd pay you off. ...The fact that they haven't suggests that they do not have a preconceived notion of what to do."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"... Yes. I worry quite a bit. I feel as if I am in a constant, precarious balance for control of myself..."

"... I suppose not," she admits. "... but in truth, I have not dated essentially since high school. I am out of practice for a start, and I do not..." She glances aside, crossing her arms. "... quite know how to go about things, as an adult."

It's kind of embarassing to have to admit that, but it doesn't make it any less true.

But the ordinary thing to do... "Yes, well. You are right about that. I have, at least, made it clear that I cannot be their heir apparent, and they seem to have accepted that." She's quiet for a moment. "... perhaps they are still in shock, and uncertain of what to do. After all, it's hardly as if I have disgraced the family, in some way."

She turns to take the two croissants out of the oven, plating them, and pouring the coffee. She sets a place for both herself and for Miho at the kitchen table, along with two different jam spreads.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"Indeed. ...But do not discount your efforts; you are ''winning'' that battle, more often than not."

Remi hasn't really had the opportunity, to Miho's mind--between abduction and recovery. But... "Hm. Well, dating men is easier than dating women," she says. "Men are more likely to expect romance from you--or at least sex--and thus if that's what you're after, it's easier to get. With women... I've never tried, absent Yua, but the trouble to me seems to be that 'dates' are a great deal like 'friendship' if you aren't also pursuing physicality. There is a difference... but it becomes harder to vocalize."

"So if you're interested enough in men, you could let one take the lead--or if you know where to find gay women..."

Miho is a solver, where she can be. She has advice!

But now, "I see. Then, there is a start. They have not tried to pay you to go away, and you both know where you stand as regards inheritance of position."

"...Yes. I think they are in shock. Thus... perhaps you have an opportunity to decide what you want to do. If they are waiting for you to act, and you are waiting for them to act... it will not change until one of you does."

Miho steps over to the plate and moves to take a seat. "Thank you, Remi-chan."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Winning the battle. "Mmm... thank you, dear. That means a great deal for me to hear. But at the same time, fighting that battle is... tiring."

It's one of the reasons she finds it easier to retreat to her apartment with her wine and only her plants for company.

Remi definitely hasn't had the opportunity. She stares at Miho for a moment as she offers her advice. "... Well. If we are going to be ''frank'' about it then... yes." She lets out a quiet huff. "I ''do'' rather miss some... physicality, in my life." Implying she's had it before, which may or may not be a surprise to Miho.

Look, she was very discrete about her relationships in high school, but she knew what she wanted.

"... I may know someone I can ask, for the latter." Beat. "... perhaps of the first, as well."

"... I suppose it does not hurt that I have not come, hat in hand as it were, to ask them for money. I am... well, mostly self-sufficient--though I am, as ever, grateful for your assistance, Miho-chan."

aBut if they're both waiting... "You may have a point. But I do not know what I want. I had always been ready to go into business, to be introduced to an agreeable suitor, to go through my life as it had been laid out for me..."

She looks at the table. "... and yet, I am not that version of myself. A year ago I did not know how to... make a croissant, or preserves. I am even pursuing my acting, though if with difficulty."

"... Those two versions of myself seem incompatible.."

"But you are quite welcome, Miho-chan."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"Fair enough," Miho says. "...To know battle always is tiring."

Miho has her own, after all. But she notices Remi hiding away, and she does want to encourage her otherwise. At least, that's how she puts it. "We should be frank," Miho agrees. "It's important. If we do not have outlets for our emotions, then those emotions will surely overcome us." It might sound strange for Miho to discuss emotion... But she does have them.

A pause, though. "Hmm. It is at least easier than hiding around in school, as an adult." She doens't comment whether it's a surprise.

Buts he knows someone... "Good," Miho says. "I wish you luck." She stops short of offering to do background checks on potential dates, but it does occur to her.

"Hmm... yes, that helps, I think." A shake of her head. "You would do the same, were our situations reversed. You are welcome."

She doesn't know...

"For better and for worse, your life is yours to choose, now," Miho says. "...If not in all ways yet, then at least in this."

"For what it's worth," she says, "I like this version of you. I think she makes a good friend."

She accepts the cup of coffee, and lifts it as if in toast.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"... some days I find my emotions easier to access than others," Remi admits, quietly. "I had to force myself to stop feeling them, for a time, to cope."

"I suppose you are correct... I have less to justify, as well."

"Thank you for the luck, dear. I am still... considering what I might do, but your encouragement is warming me to the idea."

"Bien sûr, dear. Certainly."

Remi considers that for a moment. "... it is a choice I never thought I would have," she admits. "Little wonder, then, I do not know what to make of it."

But she smiles, a warm and genuine one, at the compliment. "Well, I am certainly glad of that. You are one of my most cherished friends as well, Miho-chan."

She lifts her coffee cup in return.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-05: Rusty

2026-10-07T01:35:07Z

Talnora: Time to get back in the game, perhaps?

*'''Log: Rusty'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Remi Ryuuja]], [[Hana Fukami]]
*'''Where:''' Kichijoji - Jazz Jin
*'''OOC Date:''' October 05, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Sunday, January 20, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Remi reaches out to Hana to catch up, and the two decide to go to the Jazz Jin in Tokyo! They get drinks and talk about Hana's struggles, Remi being closeted, family matters, and getting back in the dating pool.''

----

(|=========================== Kichijoji - Jazz Jin ===========================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Kichijoji ====-
It's easy enough to miss that descent off the street below, just off one of the
main shopping streets and around the bend, but some are drawn in by the distant
notes of one of its improvisational jam sessions. Head down, and one will see
wall-to-wall vinyl, with eclectic decor that speaks to the theme of the eternal
concrete struggle between universal forces and the individuals caught in the
middle.

Listening stations at counters offer people the chance to pick their own tunes,
while an ever-shifting menu of cocktails, virgin and otherwise, specially
crafted by the club's owner, Muhen, offer people refreshment along with a night
where they can let the masks they put on for society slip for a time.

Come, and get lost in the euphonious chaos of the complex and organic natural
melodies put on by the live performers... and know that the euphoria that
follows may be the closest you will get to recapturing the nostalgia of a
certain moment.

BGM: No More What If's - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOTDmQ_gGwI

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, of course, knows some of what Hana has been through--except she doesn't, because she prefers to keep her awareness of the supernatural to herself. No, it is 'Tsurugi' who will go out and take action... for both good and ill.

But it's 'Remi' that Hana knows (and the last time they talked, Remi found out they go back quite a bit further than Remi initially realized), so Remi reached out this time to see how Hana was doing, and at Hana's recommendation...

She finds herself walking into the Jazz Jin, stopping just inside the entrance to take a look around. "My word, it certainly has a certain... je ne sais quois." She is a bit overbundled, as always, and once out of the winter chill she starts to loosen her scarf and open up her long coat.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Hana would be surprised to hear Remi speak on it. Insted, when Remi reached out... She invited her to Jazz Jin, a lovely establishment with good music and good cocktails. Hana has a normal coat, rather than also being overbundled... and it is pink like the dress she's wearing beneath it.

"It's a lovely place that I've heard about," Hana says. "So I figured, why not go first with a friend?"

She doesn't frequent the place, herself, but maybe she will after his.

When they find seats, Hana will remove her coat. "So, how are you?" she asks. "It's nice to see you."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, of course, has that oh-so-terribly-vague medical condition, that requires her to bundle up. It's fine. (Or it is once she gets inside, at least.) She prefers darker neutral colors with splashes of color (today, it's green.)

Remi smiles as Hana explains. "Well, I'm delighted that you thought of me to share it with. I suppose we shall both be in for a treat."

She slips her scarf and hat into a coat pocket nad then slips the coat off. "I am doing well enough, I suppose. Tending to my work and my plants." She looks sympathetically at Hana. "But how are ''you'', dear? I heard there was some trouble at your studio--I ''do'' hope you weren't caught up in all that unpleasantness?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Green is good.

"Yes," Hana grees. Inside, the music is playing; it's relaxing by some standards, and stimulating by others. Hana likes it.

And then inside, she takes off her coat as well. "Plants! What sort of plants do you have?" she wonders. But...

"Ah," she says. "I'm afraid I was. But I'm all right, now. It was... well, I don't remmeber most of it," she says, which is not true, but is a necessary fiction.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi rather likes the atmosphere, too... and even if she has a hard time fully relaxing, sometimes, she still can act relaxed, which is sometime as good.

"Oh, three darling little succulents. I've grown rather fond of them, as it happens." Remi smiles. "They do help keep the place from feeling ''quite'' so empty..."

Remi is, of course, spinning her own fiction--she knows full well how deeply Hana was involved. But Hana forgetting is a plausible outcome, so Remi won't question it. "You poor dear. I'm glad you're doing better, at least."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Succulents. "That sounds lovely," Hana says. "It's good to have something living around you, isn't it?" She smiles. She, of course, has people around her! ...But she's in a very different place than Remi is, at the moment.

"Thank you," she says. "That sort of experience... It makes you think about what you value."

"And so I have. That's part of why I'm glad to be able to go out and see a friend."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"Why thank you, dear." She nods. "It certainly is..." Remi, doesn't have people around her. Not in the way she'd like, at least--but her situation is complicated. "Though... I ''was'' looking after a friend's daughter for a spell, and she is certainly... spirited, so that was an interesting change of pace."

"Why I certainly imagine it would, dear." Remi, too, has had that same reckoning. But she smiles. "I am certainly glad of that as well. Did your experience give you any other grand revelations? If you do not mind my asking, of course."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
It is very complicated. "...Hmmm. That wouldn't be Tyrrha-chan, would it?" Hana asks of the daughter. "It's just that I know we have a friend in common, and... Yuarin can't look after her at the moment."

Hana knows about how Yua's in the hospital, of course. It's worried her a great deal.

But then, "Yes. Well..." She considers. "Mostly, taht I'm tired of holding back," she says. "Of lying low, to protect some idea of what I should be doing."

"But that's complicated too, of course."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi sits up a little. "The very same, dear. Why, I suppose we do, then." Yua's name had come up last time, but they hadn't confirmed it was the same one yet. "Yes, unfortunately her situation is..."

Remi sighs, shaking her head. "I suppose if you already know, I shan't belabor the point. Needless to say, I am doing what I can to support her. I do hope Tyrrha-chan enjoyed spending time with her 'aunt.'"

"Mmm... yes... I suppose hat must feel freeing." Remi nods. "But as you say..." Remi considers for a long while. "... I took great pains to keep my relationships private. It was rather a lot of effort... though nothing, I imagine, compared to the effort of dealing with public scandal."

She's silent for a moment as she thinks on it. All that effort, for the sake of her family...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Now it's confirmed! "It's difficult," Hana says seriously. "Her health is at great risk... I wish there were something more I could do about that." She sighs. But, there isn't for now. "Good. I hope you can help. And I'm sure she did! You seem to me to be good company, anyway."

Freeing... "Mm. Yes. I of course can't be entirely secretive anymore even if I wanted to be..."

"But I think I don't want to be. And Teruo's known as someone who's with me."

"Public scandal is of course difficult... But maybe it's worth it, to live as you choose."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"Hers ''and'' her child's..." Being born so premature is worrying--though she's been assured that Japan has excelent prenatal care. And Miho will, of course, spare no expense. "We all do, dear, we all do." Remi chuckles. "I certainly hope so.. though I do find it a bit... of an adaptation, shall we say, to be thrust into the role of 'aunt' at my age."

Remi sometimes has to remind herself that she is, in fact, 23. Being in the lab distorted her perception of the passage of time in some ways.

"I suppose not, no... though by the same measure, there are some things I am also unable to hide, I suppose." Her 'Pedigree', as she put it. "... though I suppose it would make my auditions easier..." she muses to herself.

"Mmm... well then dear, I wish you luck. Perhaps someday I might be able to live as you do."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Yes..." It ''is'' worrying. But worrying is all they can do, right? ...For now.

"Haha. It seems strange, doesn't it? But I'm an aunt a few times over and I'm not that much older than you." She leans in, "The secret is mostly having older brothers."

but she doesn't know about the lab, of course.

"True. ...Mm. Well, living authentically rarely makes things ''easier'', but it does have its benefits."

"I hope so," she says. "But in the end, you should live as you choose." She considers. "...I have some people very important to me who aren't 'out' yet, too. But that may change soon."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"Oh are you now?" Remi chuckles quietly. "Ahhh, yes, I suppose that ''would'' do it, would it not?" She frowns a little, a complicated set of feelings crossing her face--concern, a distant haunting. "I... grew up an only child" is what she finally says. "... so I do not have any experience in being a sister."

There's something heavy she's not saying, and her mask has slipped a little in the face of something so complicatd and novel.

"I would hope so," Remi says of the benefits. "... what might they be, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Mmm... easier said than done, I'm afraid... though I will wish all the luck I can to those important ones, as well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Yes," Hana answers, and then--notices that difference. "I see..." She had a large family, herself. But Remi? "I'm new to it too, if it helps." She tries to cheeru Remi a bit--"...But it's all right. There's no guide to family roles, really, but the ones we see."

Still, "Mm... Well. It's relieving and relaxing, not to have to keep track of lies. And there's a certain feeling of freedom to it."

"It is, yes. ...But thank you. Maybe you can meet them sometime."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Drinks come, and Remi accepts it with a grateful smile. "Thank you, dear." She got something alcoholic, not virgin, herself.

"Mmm... I suppose it does."Mmm. Then, here's to us figuring out that role." Remi lifts her glass. No guide... Remi sighs, then takes a long draw from her drink. "... I could rather do with one. I recently found out that... I have a younger brother. And I am afraid I must admit... I am rather lost, in regards to how to feel about this."

"Mmm... yes, I suppose so. The number of arrangements I had to make... Well, I will admit, the ... clandestine nature of our relationship ''was'' rather part of the thrill, but... I suppose chartered flights cannot be part of ''every'' relationship."

Wait what was that? Remi why did you say that like it was normal?

But they really couldn't have two more opposing viewpoints on how to handle this, could they?

"That would be splendid, dear. I should rather like that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Drinks!! Hana accepts a cocktail that could well get her subconscious thinking of Persona skills. What? Don't worry about it.

She also got alcohol, as it happens. "Yes." Hana lifts her glass as well. "Hmm..."

Lost. "I see... Then that's a recent development," she concludes. "It must be an adjustment, after having no siblings at all--especially as an adult."

She's sympathetic, at least. "Chartered flights, hm? That would've made certain things a little more convenient," Hana admits with a soft laugh.

But, "Good. Then, we'll make it happen."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi takes a deep breath. "New Year's Eve." So yes, recent. "Quite an adjustment... though we had.... Mmm. Fallen out of touch for a while, but never would I have imagined..." She shakes her head. "It is like walking into a home that is both familiar and not, all at once."

"... and he has no clue." She means the younger sibling.

Remi chuckles. "Yes, well, my family ''is'' rather well off... though I have not... availed myself of that wealth recently."

"I shall look forward to it. I am certain any company you would care to keep will be good company in and of themselves."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
''Very'' recent; Hana looks mildly alarmed at that, picks back up her drink and leaves her hand down on the table. "I see..." Fallen out of touch; there are many reasons that could be. "That makes sense. ...And it ''would'' be awkward. So they didn't even tell him about you..."

That's not a healthy-sounding dynamic. Good thing they have drinks!

"I suppose not, since you haven't been in touch with them. There's something to be said for making your own way, isn't there?"

A pause. "I certainly think so," she says with a smile.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi was very alarmed too--though perhaps for slightly different reasons. She takes a long sip from her drink. "... Whether they did or not, I cannot say... but he seemed to accept me readily enough." Remi looks a bit distant for a moment. "... his French is quite good, as it happens."

Oh no, this isn't a newborn baby brother, then, if he's old enough to talk...

There are a ''lot'' of things about this situation that aren't healthy. Remi is also glad for her drink.

"There is, at that... I have still had the support of a dear friend, but... learning how to cook, in particular, has been a delightful achievement." Remi smiles faintly, at that, though she still looks perturbed.

"Anything you would care to share about them? Or shall I wait to meet them?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
The picture seems fairly plain to Hana; for whatever reason, Remi was out of contact with her family, and by the time it was re-established there was a Brother who was not previously in play. "I see..."

But, well. "Cooking is fun," Hana agrees. "I used to jsut get by on konbini food and the like..." She laughs softly.

And--

Hana sets her drink down with a smile when Remi asks that question. She considers the answer. "I'll tell you about Teruo," she decides. "He's the one I've been seeing the longest. He likes baseball; he's a big, chivalrous kind of man. And he really knows how to make a woman feel special."

"He's a meteorologist, too; he works at the station with me. He has an understated sense of humor... And he's very handsome."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
That is, indeed, the picture.

"Isn't it though? A little bit of effort and ingredients, and you are rewarded with something hopefully delicious--it may have taken me some time to get to 'delciious', though, but Yua-chan is a patient instructor." She swirls her drink. "... and mastering French cuisine has brought me a certain sense of comfort."

She sets her own drink down, leaning in to listen. "Tall, handsome, ''and'' chivalrous. And with a sense of humor, no less. My, Fuykami-chan, you are ''quite'' lucky. And if he knows how to make a woman feel special..."

There is a faint glint of playful mischief. "... does he have a brother, by any chance?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Yes! ...And even if it's only serviceable, it's still something you made with your own hands." Yua... "Yes, I can imagine she would be," she says. "And a cute tutor, too." She smiles back. "I'm glad." French cuisine...

"Haha, I am! But I'm afraid no available brothers are forthcoming."

"But I do happen to know some other eligible men. And women, for that matter. I should tell you about the girls, too..."

She sips her drink.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi laughs softly as Hana describes Yua as 'cute'. "Mmm, that she is. Confident, too." Though, Remi missed her shot. It's fine.

"i have been trying my hand at French desserts, as of late..."

No available brothers. "Ahhh, more's the pity," replies Remi, but she's smiling. But she pauses when Hana mentions other men and women. "... hmmm."

A light frown. "... it ''has'' been some time..." She sighs. "... I am afraid I am rather... rusty. But I shall take it under advisement."

She is actually kind of lonely sometimes, but... romantic entanglement has its own complications.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
Confident... in some ways. Hana thinks back to what Yua told her about the Order... and decides not to dwell on it for now.

"oh really?" Hana asks of dessert. "Maybe we should've visited you instead!" Mmm, dessert.

She smiles back. "...Though, I should say, most of those ''I'' know would be more interested in something short-term than a longer relationship. ...It's just sort of how it goes."

But that might be better, if it's been some time. Or worse! "All right."

Loneliness is something real. Hana decides, rather than sharing about her embarrassment of riches for the moment...

"But I can tell you more later. How about we listen for a bit?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi would not be happy to know that Hana knows about the Order... but there's nothing she can do about that at the moment.

Remi laughs, smiling. "Perhaps I should host a tasting, then? I would be happy to host you and a guest... though more than one and it may be better for me to come to you."

(Remi that would make you the guest though.)

Short term... Remi considers that. "... perhaps... that could be acceptable," she muses, nodding slowly. "... I shall think on it."

Remi smiles and nods, lifting her glass. "Yes, let's."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

Kazusa Motojima

2026-10-06T03:02:57Z

Talnora: Added Kazusa art finally!

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Kazusa Motojima'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kazusa Motojima (元島和紗)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Strength}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1995|05|11}} (May 11, 1995)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Purple
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'2" /157 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| AB
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Shibuya Ward, Tokyo
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Shujin Academy
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Second Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Persona Syzygy]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| None
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"You call'' that ''an outfit?"''

Behind her back, people call Kazusa the Demon Queen of Shujin... and she doesn't care. Kazusa is rich, popular, stylish, and a star of Shujin's Rhythmic Gymnastics team. She has followers who hang on her every word, but for those who don't fit the mold of what's 'acceptable' she can be vicious and cruel. And of course, most people know her last name from the Motojima Corporation, makers of video games and home electronics. (Not that Kazusa would be caught dead playing a video game, mind you.) Kazusa does genuinely put in the hard work for (most) of what she has, and she demands excellence from those around her, but this can also lead her to being impatient and short-tempered for those who can't keep up. What most people don't know, however, is her cruel demeanor masks a creative and passionate heart, one stifled under the rigid expectations placed upon her.

= Background =
Kazusa was born to a family legacy: she is a daughter of the Motohima family, who owns the Motojima Corporation, a well-known manufacturer of consumer electronics, consoles, and video games.

Her grandparents, Shigeki and Kae Motojima, are two notable figures in Motojima Corporation's history. As a programmer and artist duo, they made some of the earliest arcade cabinets and console games, helping expand the Motojima Corporation's influence and standing. Kazusa dearly wants to follow in their footsteps, but has faced a constant rodeblock: her father.

Kazuki Motojima is not on good terms with his parents, criticizing their creative efforts and, by extension, his daughter's ambitions. He is the current CFO of the Motojima Corporation, and carries a no-nonsense attitude besides.

Kazusa entered Shujin Academy's system starting with her first year of middle school, and immediately joined the Rhythmic gymnastics club. She also met Wakana Oosaka, a girl who would become her best friend... and eventual semi-lackey. Kazusa's talents for Rhythmic Gymnastics gained her notice, as did her family's wealth and status, combined with an on-point fashion sense.

She became popular... but as she weathered the negative influences of her father, all of that strain and criticism started to be reflected outwards. Starting to criticize anybody who stood out didn't conform to the norms, this habit grew more and more until the students started whispering a name behind her back; "Demon Queen."

==Season 1, Episode 1==

In her 2nd year of high school, Kazusa's reign as the Demon Queen has continued unabated. However, over the summer break, something happened.

Rumor has it Kazusa was caught out ''in cosplay'' at a local video game convention, and by her father no less. The rumor mill has started circulatihg the news, with some unwilling to believe the serious, no-nonsense Demon Queen could be caught up in something so nerdy, and others glad to see her taken down a peg.

But nobody was prepared for what would come next: When the Fall Semester started, Kazusa came back... a lot nicer, as well as a lot brighter and chipper. One would be hard-pressed to reconcile this new version of her with her previous attitude, and there's a good reason for that.

Any Persona User who notices her can tell that the thing wearing Kazusa's skin is definitely '''not human'''. She is, in fact, a [[Homunculus]]... but really, isn't this version of her much nicer?



= Special Skills =
Kazusa is an expert at spending her father's money, or so it seems. She is legitimately a talented member of Shujin's Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.

Approaches:

1. Fashion Talk ''(Academics)'': You've gotta stay up with the latest trends, right? Getting caught in last season's fashions is ''such'' a loser move.

2. Demon Queen ''(Charm)'': Love her or hate her (and plenty of people do the latter), Kazusa's got a commanding presence.

3. Rhythm and Flow ''(Proficiency)'': Kazusa has spent a long time doing rhythmic gymnastcis, and she has the grace and agility to go with it.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Hazuki Nakao]]
| Nakao-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| So you were that girl in the atelier... why can't I stop thinking about you?
|-
| [[Hazuki Nakao|MorningStarGirl]]
| MorningStarGirl
| {{Arcana|???}}
| You're pretty skilled at Night Parade... and weirdly, talking to you is really easy, sometimes.
|-
| [[Fuuka Yamagishi]]
| Yamagishi-san
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Thanks for keeping my sketchbook safe... I guess if you ever want to talk about tech sometime...
|-
| [[Ren Amamiya]]
| Amamiya-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Doing the right thing, even when it's hard... I still don't understand you, but... maybe there's more to you than just the 'criminal delinquent' the rumors talk about.
|-
| [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]]
| Yoshizawa-san
| {{Arcana|Star}}
| You look like you're doing better, at least. Good. I've... got enough to worry about.
|-
| [[Ann Takamaki]]
| Takamaki-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| I've been thinking about what Amamiya-san said about you... hmm.
|-
| [[Shinjiro Aragaki]]
| I don't even know your name.
| {{Arcana|Hierophant}}
| How did someone like ''you'' become a Peacock Silk customer? And what's with that coat?
|-
| [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]]
| Yoshinaga-senpai
| {{Arcana|Emperor}}
| I don't know what it is you want, but... get to the point.
|-
| [[Ryuji Sakamoto]]
| Sakamoto-san
| {{Arcana|Chariot}}
| I wish you hadn't put yourself at risk for me, but... you were the only one who tried to step in. I'll remember that.
|-
| [[Kanae Fuyuki]]
| Kanae-chan
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| So... we're friends now. Um. Thanks. I'll try to be a good friend to you.
|-
| [[Makoto Niijima]]
| Niijima-senpai
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Were you deliberately trying to provoke that thing!? What is ''wrong'' with you??
|-
| [[Haru Okumura]]
| Definitely Okumura-senpai
| {{Arcana|Empress}}
| So you like those kinds of movies, huh... well, glad to know I'm not the only one.
|-
| [[Moriko Kumamoto]]
| Kumamoto-san
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| I still can't believe you took that picture, but... the stew wasn't half bad, I guess...
|-
| [[Shinichi Nagisa]]
| Nagisa-san
| {{Arcana|Magician}}
| ... We'll get the real you back. Promise. I won't leave you there any longer than I have to.
|-
| [[Roger]]
| Roger-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| I'm still upset that you endangered Wakana-chan, but... I shouldn't have snapped at you.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

=== Family ===

'''Kazuki Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Emperor}}): Kazusa's father and the current CFO of the Motojima Corporation. Very stern, and does not see much value in creative vocations, much less his daughter's desire to pursue them; he would much rather Kazusa pursue Rhythmic Gymnastics. Has been verbally abusive of Kazusa's desires and 'unfeminine' traits, leading to her being taken over by a Homunculus. Openly pleased about the Homunculus version of Kazusa and how she seems to be a lot more compliant to his wishes.

'''Karin Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Hierophant}}): Kazusa's mother. She is a quiet, soft-spoken woman, who comports herself in a far more traditional way. Her family owns a small flower shop, where she learned the art of flower arrangement. She also performs traditional tea ceremonies and practices calligraphy. She has aligned herself with Kazuki in encouraging her daughter to seek a more traditional path, even if her approach is gentler on its surface.

'''Kazuhiro Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Moon}}): Kazusa's younger brother by about a year. A first-year at Shujin Academy and a member of its basketball team. Quietly looks out for his sister. Kazusa may openly draw the most open ire from their father, but he hasn't escaped unscathed either. He's learned to hide his own interests, putting on an air of 'one of the guys' to escape scrutiny from Kazuki. As children they used to be closer but drifted apart due to the pressure and strain. But Kazuhiro helped Kazusa out while she was a Homunculus, at risk to himself, and now both siblings have pledged to support each other against their parents.

'''Shigeki Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Magician}}): Kazusa's paternal grandfather. He was one of the earliest programmers for the Motojima Corporation and helped create some of their earliest arcade cabinets and then console games in the 70's and 80's, going on to become a storied producer behind many of the Motojima Corporation's biggest franchises such as Night Parade. He is a boistrous figure when speaking publicly. Doesn't have a great relationship with his son Kazuki.

'''Kae Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Empress}}): Kazusa's paternal grandmother. She started at the Motojima Corporation as a graphic artist/designer, but embraced new mediums as they developed which led to her working on some of the Motojima Corporation's earliest video games. She helped pioneer new techniques in digitial art, and over time worked her way up to being an art director for their interactive entertainment division. She and Shigeki met when working on the earliest video games and quickly became a power couple. She is trying to mend her relationship with Shigeki while also taking a firm stance against his treatment of her grandchildren.

'''Motojima Corporation''': The Motojima Corporation is a family-owned company that has grown rapidly over the past few decades. They are primarily known for producing consumer electronics as well as video game consoles, games, and arcade cabinets, as well as other related technologies. They have many long-running popular franchises, including the fighting game series Night Parade.

=== Friends ===

'''Wakana Oosaka''' ({{Arcana|Star}}): Kazusa's closest friend, and the one most privy to her private ambitions... but also all of her reflected negativity. She is a second year student at Shujin Academy, in the same class as Kazusa, and is also a member of the Rhythmic Gymnastics team. Both of them have been practicing Rhythmic Gymnastics together since elementary school, in fact, and Wakana knows that the version of Kazusa that people know as the Demon Queen isn't the way she's always been. She's offered Kazusa chance after chance, even as their relationship strained... but something shifted when [[2026-02-24:_Fair-weather_Friend|Kazusa's Homunculus threatened her]]. The genuine Kazusa has now [[2026-03-14:_Letting_Go,_Holding_On|offered the apology she always deserved]], but while Wakana has accepted the apology as genuine... she isn't ready to offer trust again so readily. Right now they're on a break, and Kazusa is doing her best to give Wakana the space she needs. (Which is difficult, considering they're in the same class and club together.)

= Logs and Cutscenes =

== Season 1 ==

=== Episode 1 ===
{{LogList|Kazusa Motojima|Season 1, Episode 1}}

=== Episode 2 ===
{{LogList|Kazusa Motojima|Season 1, Episode 2}}

= Gallery =
[[File:Kazusa_Motojima_Transmutation_by_Tanyuu_2026-02.png|300px]]

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Shujin Academy]]
[[Category:Focus]]

File:Kazusa Motojima Transmutation by Tanyuu 2026-02.png

2026-10-06T02:57:49Z

Talnora: Kazusa Motojima in her Transmutation form. Art by Tanyuu.

== Summary ==
Kazusa Motojima in her Transmutation form. Art by [[User:Tanyuu|Tanyuu]].

2026-10-04: Taking a Weight Off

2026-10-05T03:15:17Z

Talnora: That crushing weight...

*'''Log: Taking a Weight Off'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Fuuka Yamagishi]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Station
*'''OOC Date:''' October 04, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Saturday, January 19, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''After their half-day of classes, Ririka and Fuuka go grab lunch together. Ririka comes out to Fuuka, and the two discuss that and other topics.''

----

(|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
The intersection of high speed rail along the coast of Tokyo and Tatsumi Port
Island's monorail line from the mainland across the sea to its artificial
island, Iwatodai Station is the cornerstone of daily life to the inhabitants of
this place. Even the most jaded salaryman could get lost in the experience of
looking out upon the glittering sea as they ride across it to their daily life.

A multi-story strip mall across the street from the station offers students such
selections as Wakatsu for sushi high in omega-3s to increase that brain power,
Hagakure Ramen with all the collagen you could desire for skin care, or even
Wilduck's infamous Mystery Burger for those who desire an impromptu test of
courage. Net cafes selling some of the latest releases and hole-in-the-wall
bookstores give people endless options of what to do with their evening.

With this blend of local flavor and modern convenience, Iwatodai Station truly
is the ideal option to stop by whether you're coming or going home.

BGM - Tranquility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvwVzA1z44

AS: October Patch 15:48:24
AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Saturday! They still have classes, but at least it's a half-day. So there's a little bit more free time in the afternoon, and Ririka still has something on her mind.

She'd gotten Fuuka's attention and asked if she wanted to grab lunch after class, and so now they're here at the strip mall. Or a little ways away from it, at least. Ririka's picked up some sushi for herself. She's still in her winter uniform, with dark purple tights for the winter chill. And she's found a bench that's a little bit removed from normal traffic bustle and has a nice view of the ocean.

She pokes at her sushi for a moment, something weighing on her. She might be overthining how this conversation went with Suzume the night before, so she's figuring out how to broach it.

... But luckily, she does have something of substance to say as a starter. "So, you know that Kingdom we explored?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Ririka had reached out to her, and Fuuka accepted the invitation. Lunch ''did'' sound good, and she does like eating with friends. And so, they set out after school. They've picked up lunch, and now they're here. Fuuka acquired sushi, the same as Ririka, which she currently eats at slowly and carefully as Ririka works her way through her thoughts.

Fuuka can tell there's ''something'' on her mind, but she doesn't push her to say it until she's ready.

"Fukami-san's? The TV studio?" Fuuka asks for confirmation. "I remember it, yes."

She goes quiet, giving her space to elaborate.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
There's a lot of thoughts to work through, but... eating lunch with a friend is ''definitely'' better than eating alone.

"That's the one." Ririka takes a deep breath. "I happened to run into her after she was freed from th Kigndom." A slight lie, but Ririka doesn't want to say that she called Hana because she's got Hana's contact info, at least not yet.

"... she seems to be doing well. So, I'm glad for that. Thanks again for coming with me to help map out the place."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka listens as Ririka explains. She happened to run into Hana after she was freed... Right now, she doesn't see any reason to doubt that.

"I see... That's a relief." Fuuka says with a sigh. "I was worried about her... I don't know how much we saw reflected her real life situation, but it seemed difficult... And, I know how hard it can be to readjust after being stuck in a space like that."

Fuuka nods.

"You're welcome, though. I'm glad we were able to help her."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"It is," Ririka agrees. A relief, that is. But as for her real-life situation... Ririka lets out a long sigh. "... more than she'd probably like," Ririka admits. Ririka might not know ''all'' the details, but she definitely learned some both before and during that fight with Hana's Shadow.

But Fuuka knows what it's like to be trapped in a space like that. Ririka looks to her and nods sadly. "... yeah. I'm really glad we got her out."

"Me too. It sounded like... she's had a really rough time of things, in some ways..." Ririka considers for a moment, fingers drumming on her thigh. "... being different in a way that society doesn't approve of, you know? It really takes a lot of guts."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>'More than she'd probably like'... Fuuka nods quietly. She can't imagine how it must feel to have one's personal matters aired like that. At least in ''her'' situation, her thoughts got to remain private.

"Me too." Fuuka agrees.

Ririka comments on how it seems like she's had a really rough time of things.

"Yes, it seems that way..." Fuuka replies with a nod. She notes the way Ririka trails off, working through her thoughts, and takes the opportunity to finish off the last of her sushi.

She has to think about what she says next, though. Being different in a way that society doesn't approve of...

"...Yes. It's difficult. Society always places certain expectations on your shoulders, and if you try to step outside of it... the weight can be crushing." She agrees.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's true, at least in Fuuka's case, all people heard was her voice calling for help.

Ririka's working on her sushi, but slowly. She's kind of spending more time thinking than eating.

"... Yeah. It really is." IT's something they've touched on before, even. Fuuka's interests, as well as Ririka's, are both a bit atypical for what's expected of teenage girls. Ririka takes a deep breath. "But, Fukami-san is out there trying to be herself, and..."

She looks over to Fuuka. "... that makes me want to try, too. There's, ah, something I'd like to tell you."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka nods as Ririka agrees. It's something Fuuka herself still deals with - how what society says she should do and be clashes with her own interests. ...It's part of why cooking is so difficult for her.

Fukami-san... Fuuka nods - but it seems like Ririka has something more to say so Fuuka doesn't interrupt just yet. Ririka wants to try being herself, too... and she has something to tell her.

"Okay. I'm listening." Fuuka replies with a nod, setting her tray aside and giving Ririka her full attention. It seems like it's important to her.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's leading a rock band is definitely on that list of things that clashes with society's expectations, but this is something else.

She decides to put her own tray aside, even though it's not finished. She leans forward, elbows resting on her knees. "So..." She takes a deep breath. She's done this a few times but it's still a little nerve-wracking, not knowing how someone will react. "... the thing I wanted to say is, I'm into girls. I'm a bian."

She looks over at Fuuka, to gauge her reaction.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka can tell she's nervous - but she can't really blame her for that. Ririka even sets aside her own tray. And then, after working up the courage, Ririka tells her. It takes a second for it to click - and then Fuuka lets out a small 'oh!' of surprise.

She's online enough that she's familiar with the concept. It's not something ''new'' to her - but it ''is'' a surprise, hearing someone tell her in person.

She also recognizes how difficult that must be for her.

After a moment, Fuuka offers her a small smile.

"I never knew..." She admits. "But... that's wonderful, Ririka-chan. Thank you, for telling me."

She offers her a nod.

"Um... is it okay if I ask, when did you find out?" She asks.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Surprise is a fair reaction. She stays silent for a moment longer, though, letting Fuuka process things. She's trying to stay calm, but... she's still plenty anxious.

She's trying to keep tha anxiousness off her face, but itshe can't eliminate it completely.

But she smiles, when Fuuka does.

(As it happens, Ririka also found out more about this online, too, back when she was first figuring herself out.)

"Yeah, well... that's kind of what happens when you hide it..." It means people don't know. But she says with with a quiet chuckle. "Thanks, Fuuka-chan. I was hoping you'd understand, and... you're welcome."

She nods, "yeah, uh, I don't mind answering questions, so ask away. As for when I figured it out... about two and a half years ago. It was Summer Break, the last year of middle school." So about August 2010. "There was this girl that I used tohang out with a lot, and..." Ririka sighs.

"... I think I had a massive crush on her. But that summer was when her family had to move, and..." Ririka tries to shrug a little, but it's clear this still affects her dearly. "When I tried to figure out why her leaving..."

She trails off for a moment. "... well. I eventually figured it out."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka laughs a bit sheepishly when Ririka points out that's what happens when someone hides things - but she nods, wehn Ririka thanks her in turn.

She listens, then, as Ririka explains when she found out. A friend who moved away in the summer of 2010, and she didn't figure out why her leaving affected her so strongly until later. And not long after that, was...

...2010 was a difficult year for Ririka, it seems.

"I see... That's so sad. I'm sorry." Fuuka murmurs quietly. "I hope you're able to find someone else some day."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
2010 definitely had a couple different types of heartbreak in it. And the second one kind of consumed the first, and it took Ririka a while to start working her way through either of them.

She's still working on it, in fact.

"Thanks. It was... kind of a lot to go through, but... yeah." She takes a deep breath. And then she laughs softly, smiling as a red tinge comes to her cheeks. "Oh, thanks, but... I ammm actually seeing someone right now." Ririka rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "... remember when we ran into each other in Paulownia, before the Winter Break? And Suzuki-san was there too?"

"The, uh, 'friend' that I was shopping for was... actually the girl I'm seeing."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>"I imagine..." Fuuka replies with an understanding nod. Ririka laughs at her comment, though, and Fuuka notices the red creeping onto her face. And then Ririka admits that she's actually already seeing someone. Fuuka looks on curiously - and then there's an 'oh!' of recognition as Ririka explains.

"I remember that..." Fuuka confirms, and laughs just a little. "I had no idea! But, that makes a lot of sense, thinking back on it now..."

She smiles. If she knew that back then, she would've made some slightly different gift suggestions to Hyousuke... but, it seems like things worked out anyway.

"In that case, I'll hope for happiness for the both of you." She says. "I'd like to meet her sometime! ...Whenever she's comfortable with that, of course."

Just because Ririka trusts her doesn't mean her girlfriend will, and she accepts that.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Eh heh... yeah... kinda makes sense why I was stressing about it so much, huh? But I did eventually figure something out..."

As it happens, the gift Hyousuke got her went over pretty well. Ririka will have to remember to thank Hyousuke for that sometime.

"Thanks! I really appreciate it." She sits back up a little again as Fuuka suggests meeting her. "Oh, sure. I'd really like that? But I'll have to talk to her about it. See if she's up for it, and, well, she lives in Sumaru, sooo..." Ririka shrugs. "You know, all the scheduling that takes."

"... But I'd like that," Ririka continues. "I've been thinking about... like... being more open, not having to hide as much, so... you know. That'd be nice."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>"A little..." Fuuka admits with a small laugh. "That's good, though..."

She nods as Ririka appreciates the well-wishes - and then, she says she'd like for her to meet her, too.

"I see... Yes, that makes sense." Fuuka replies, nodding in understanding. It ''can'' be difficult to schedule things, especially with school still going on. Having lunch with a friend who lives in the same dorm is one thing, but finding time to meet with someone who lives in another city entirely... That takes some thinking. "Then let me know, when you figure something out."

She listens as Ririka explains that she's been thinking about being more open, and not having to hide as much. Fuuka nods in understanding.

"I want that for you too, Ririka-chan. So... I'll be cheering you on." Fuuka offers her support.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka is feeling a lot better, now that what she had to say is actually out in the open.

"Yeah... we've started meeting in Tokyo? You know, kind of meet in the middle kind of thing... though, I'm still going to Sumaru to see my sister, too, so..." But she nods. "I will!"

"Thanks, Fuuka-chan," Ririka says. Having support does wonders for her nerves, too, especially when it's vocalized like that. "Did... you wanna ask me anything else? Or... what's been up with you lately?"

Ririka leans back, picking up her tray to take a bite out of some sushi.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka nods thoughtfully as Ririka explains that they've started meeting in Tokyo.

"That's a fair way to do it... and, I imagine that helps, too." She replies. If she's going to Sumaru ''already'', she imagines that makes it easier to meet up.

"Of course." Fuuka assures as Ririka thanks her. Any other questions... Fuuka 'hm's to herself thoughtfully, tapping her chin. "...How did you two meet? And... how long have you been dating?"

As for what's up with her...

"I haven't been doing much, myself... Now that school's started up again, I've been busy between that and Art Club." She explains.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's even ''easier'' when your girlfriend happens to live in the same dorm as your sister, but Ririka won't say that part yet.

"Yeah, plus... less chance of running into someone we know before we're ready, so..." Ririka shrugs. There's still some hiding left.

But how they met. "Oh, well," Ririka laughs a little. "Actually my sister introduced us. So, you know. Tookk some of the guesswork out of it... And we've been seeing each other since about the start of November, I think. I'd have to check the exact date."

Classes and clubs. Ririka nods. "Cool... whatcha been working on in Art Club?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>"I can see how that'd be helpful..." Fuuka comments. It makes sense. They still have to be careful...

Ririka explains that her sister introduced them, and that they've been seeing each other since about the start of November.

"Oh, I see! I'm glad that worked out." Fuuka comments with interest. And if her sister introduced her, then that obviously means that she knows, too. "I'm glad that she was able to help you both meet... and that she accepted you, too."

She 'hm's for a moment.

"About the start of November... So it's been a little while. That must be exciting." She comments.

As for Art Club...

"I don't have any specific projects going on at the moment, but we've been learning new techniques we can use in our art." Fuuka explains. "Trying out different art styles and methods... things like that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"yeah..."

Ririka smiles. "Me, too. And... thanks. Nee-chan ended up being the first person I came out to last year... my family knows, a few other people... and now you." And a couple of people in SEES, as it happens.

Ririka grins happily. "It is, yeah... it feels... really good, after holding that in for two yeas, to finally able t... you know."

"Oh, cool," Ririka says of new techniques. "It's always cool when you can learn new methods for things... helps keep what you like fresh and interesting, right?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Ririka lists off the people who know. Fuuka nods along thoughtfully.

"That's good... I'm glad you have a lot of people behind you." She offers. It would be difficult if she couldn't trust her family. She smiles, then, as Ririka says that it feels good. "I'm happy for you, Ririka-chan."

Ririka says that new techniques are cool, and Fuuka nods.

"Mm-hm. And even if I don't intend to use them myself, just knowing them and why other people use them broadens my horizons quite a bit." She agrees.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, I guess I do..." When you add it all up... it suddenly feels like a lot more. And having at least a few people in SEES feels really good, too...

A few years ago, it might've been a different story for her family to accept. But after everything that's happened...

Well, her parents' priorities have changed a bit.

Brodening your horizons. "Yeah! I feel the same way. I love studying different types of music, even if I'm not like, ever gonna write a symphony, knowing how they work is cool."

Ririka picks up her last piece of sushi and takes a bite, chewing it down. "Written anything new lately?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Ririka decides that she does, and Fuuka is pleased. She nods, when Ririka agrees on the usefulness about learning other methods.

"Exactly." Fuuka agrees. "It gives me a greater appreciation for them, too."

Ririka asks if she's written anything new and Fuuka thinks it over for a moment.

"Mm, well... I don't have anything on the page yet..." Fuuka admits. "I do have some ideas forming thanks to the books I've been reading lately, though."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, cool! Then... what hav eyou been reading lately?"

With the heavy news out of the way, Ririka will let the conversation drift to other topics, such as books, manga, and so on, all while the sun shimmers over the distant, rippling ocean.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-26: An Unlikely Teamup

2026-10-02T21:06:59Z

Talnora: Three Persona Users walk into an Atelier...

*'''Log: An Unlikely Teamup'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Remi Ryuuja]], [[Fuuka Yamagishi]]
*'''Where:''' Shinichi's Atelier, Fabric of Reality
*'''OOC Date:''' September 26, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Tuesday, January 15, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Three separate Persona Users enter Shinichi's Atelier on their own to scout, and end up teaming up to explore it together. They make some concerning discoveries.''

----

(|========================== Aoyama-Itchome Station ==========================|)
-==================================================== Tokyo/Aoyama-Itchome ====-
A crowded train station leads to sunny streets and colorful businesses, but this
is an illusion of freedom. Your perspective narrows as you continue to walk, no
matter whether you turn down the main walk or cut through the alleyways. Darker
shadows line the way, past the temptation of vending machines, as the gates and
higher walls of the building come into view.

March along with your fellow students to your destination, some few of whom
understand that society forces them to consign themselves each day to
imprisonment. The kanji for 'Shujin' in local prep school Shujin Academy means
'Utmost Excellence,' but it also sounds like the word for 'Prisoner.' That
wordplay is all too apt, concealing in plain sight the fact that you are a
prisoner here for six days a week and the majority of your waking hours...

And then you go home.

AS: Remi Ryuuja has readied for combat as La Maupin! She is now fully healed!

MONAD: A party led by Katsuko Yoshinaga has begun the event Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho.

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 1 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: In These Halls, Terror |
| Approach Options: Academics or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Ineptitude - Proficiency Down L2, Shuffle - Draw 1 Minor |
| Arcana., and Stupor - Academics Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjYxvF-J7Fo

Drip.
Drip.
Drip.

You appear in what looks like a darkened school hallway. Shine some light on
a bulletin board though and you can see that this is actually Our Lady of
the Holy Stoat Middle School, in the town of Mikage-Cho.

But it looks like it's been abandoned for months. The only light on down the
hallway flickers pathetically every so often, the classroom doors won't
open, and even if forced open, one runs into a great barricade of debris
behind each of them.

With whispers and whimpers behind them, shushes and calls for quiet. One may
see why in short order. Flegmat Humors wander these halls, mumbling, their
forms taking the shape of huge sickly Oni with unkempt purple manes,
dragging clubs behind them. Dog-headed ones half their size flanking them.
They look like demons- demons from that time, but warped, as if to fit some
half-remembered watercolor of them.

If you listen to their mumbles long enough, you may pick out the words for
'Filial Piety' and 'Divine Punishment' at least, as they wander the
labyrinthine halls, eyes glassy. If one enters their field of vision, then
they freeze, then begin to charge, screaming expletives and swinging their
clubs wildly.

In order to get past them, you must expertly navigate these halls through
the occasionally posted, confusing floor plans, keeping out of sight.

Of course, you could just fight them, but that'd be an exhausting slog, and
energy you can't afford to expend here at the beginning.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>The place was a far cry from the grand architecture and sweeping scenery of Kazusa's Atelier - Shinichi's was, in no uncertain terms, a derelict mess. Every inch of it was drowned in shadow that robbed those who entered of their sight, with the pathetic flickering of a distant bulb the closest thing to a beacon that Grim could see in that abandoned place. Hulking monstrosities, be they purple-maned behemoths or dog-headed beasts, stalked through the place, muttering words that Katsuko had to strain to hear above the ambient noise of the Atelier.

The sensible part of her regretted coming alone. If she fell there, she would fall without hope of rescue. But she needed stealth and finesse to scout the place, and the more people that came with her, the more that she risked being caught out. Those blackened halls served as fine example for her point. She could steal through the shadows, clinging to walls and ducking around enemy combatants, weaving her way towards the next area, and not have to worry about dragging others along with her. It was better, she told herself, despite the danger.

Shadowed eyes darted across the floor plans whenever they appeared. Every corner was committed to memory, every label and detail studied for a hint of a way through. Each plan was cross-referenced with its predecessors, and then again with the one she'd been drawing in her mind. Slowly, she began to build something clear in her mind. All that was left was to make her way into the halls proper, and put her knowledge to the test.
</poem>

MONAD: Katsuko Yoshinaga has acted with Infer toward In These Halls, Terror! Specialty!

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Tsurugi also came alone--though with her power and capability, she is confident in her ability to navigate a supernatural space--at least enough to get the lay out the land. She could always draw back if the need arose, and she had some particular tools at her disposal to help with that.

But there were many kinds of supernatural curiosities out there, and she needed to understand as many of them as she could. While she was glad to lend her aid to Miyu in her pursuit for power, there were yet more things she wished to know and understand.

What might she find, that she could make her own, should the need arise?

It was a tight fit, managing the wardrobe change in the net cafe's booth, but she managed.

A tall woman in a dark black fencing suit stepped carefully into the Atelier, her face completely hidden by a black mask. On her right thigh a holster, her left hip a rapier, and behind her a pouch (and another sheathed dagger.)

She quickly scanned her surroundings, looking at the fog, the building maps, noting the barricaded doors, the monsters roaming about. Mmm. She could spend her time evading the patrols... or she could cut a path directly to the exit.

In a rush of red flame La Maupin rises beside her, and both of them draw their rapiers as they charge down the hallway. Even without speaking, the two are fast and deadly as they cut a path towards the closest exit, using their teamwork and coordinated strikes to overwhelm and take down the patrols.
</poem>

MONAD: Remi Ryuuja has acted with Dramatis Persona toward In These Halls, Terror! Diligence and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka has been in contact with Kazusa Motojima regarding the situation with Shinichi - and now that a way into his Atelier has been discovered, the relevant information has been passed to her. And through her, to the rest of SEES - though Fuuka informed them that she intended to do some scouting ahead.

That's what brings her here now, to this strange darkened school hallway. It's ominous. It seems to extend onward for eternity.

...It reminds her far too much of the first block of Tartarus, in a way - but with Humors, rather than the mindless masses that roam those halls. She's just glad it's not the second. There are still some things related to that unresolved.

She shuts her eyes, expanding her mind throughout the many hallways of the school they find themselves in. She hears their voices, as clear as if she were right next to them.

And, more importantly... she can sense ''people''. She isn't the only one who's decided to scout it alone. She had intended to go no further than the entrance, but... if they're all here at the same time, wouldn't it be better to go together? She reaches out to them mentally.

''...Can you hear me?'' Fuuka's voice can be heard in their minds. ''This place is full of dangerous creatures... Please allow me to guide you. I believe we should work together.''

If they accept her help, they'll be able to get a better view of the area, and where the enemies are.

For Fuuka, of course, this is not her first time sneaking through unknown halls of hostile creatures.
</poem>

MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Bookworm toward In These Halls, Terror! Escape and Smarts!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== In These Halls, Terror - Round 1 ======================================-
Fuuka Yamagishi Academics Success
Bookworm Escape and Smarts Fatigue: 0 Morale: 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remi Ryuuja Proficiency Success
Dramatis Persona Diligence and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katsuko Yoshinaga Academics Success
Infer Specialty Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Ineptitude-2, Shuffle: Wand-0, and Stupor-2
Final Conditions: Ineptitude-1 and Stupor-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 1/6 |= | ===================================================-
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>While she did not appreciate having a stranger's voice in her head, Grim couldn't deny that the prospect of picking her way through the entire Atelier by herself was not an especially good idea. Not when such dangerous things lurked in just the very first area.
"Fine." She muttered near-silently. "We meet at the exit. Don't expect any responses until I'm clear."

True to her word, Grim was quiet as the grave, and combined with Dantes' abilities shielding her from view, the Humours saw nothing more than a shifting shadow - something that could easily have been dismissed by the flickering of a bulb, or some wayward debris fluttering in a draught. It certainly helped that no shortage of them were distracted by the blazing strikes of a woman carving her way through their number. They shouted and clamoured and roared, rushing towards her in disparate groups... But none could so much as land a glancing blow. For all their efforts, they could not stop Tsurugi and her Persona from searing a path towards the exit. So great was the distraction that vanishingly few lay in Fuuka's path as well, and even they were too distracted with finding their way to the most obvious threat that - even if they did spot her - she was completely ignored.

Grim regarded her with a silent, stoic, gaze. She said nothing for a moment, thinking and analysing, then spoke in that flat tone she used so often.
"You're the one that fought the Yuki-Onna." She said bluntly. Clearly, she recognised Tsurugi - and likely remembered everything she'd heard that night as well. Nevertheless, there was no hostility to her voice, nor her actions. "Whoever that was, that was speaking to us, was probably right. We've a better chance of getting through this place together."
</poem>

MONAD: Katsuko Yoshinaga has drawn a new Challenge!

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 2 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: The Future Promise I Walked By, Missing |
| Approach Options: Academics or Charm |
| Conditions: Bothersome - Charm Down L1, Ineptitude - Proficiency Down L2, |
| Stupor - Academics Down L1, and Stupor - Academics Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

Once out of the school, a little origami angel-spirit floats towards you to
get your attention. Those familiar will recognize it as a part of Peacock
Silk Navigator Yanagi Nagisa's Persona, Giselle. Once it has your attention,
it floats away, appearing and disappearing, to guide you in a certain
direction.

Soon enough, it brings you to Yanagi herself, resplendent in her
brilliantly-colored Transmutation with her rainbow skirts, sunset pink hair,
and peacock green eyes. She smiles at you as her needle-limbed Persona
pirouettes behind her, and points towards a particularly thick patch of fog.

"Over there is St. Hermelin High School. Use it for a secret passage to the
core of this Atelier," she tells you.

So you go... but the fog doesn't lighten any. In fact, it gets only thicker
and colder... until...

"HEE-HO!" "HEE-HO!" "HEE-HOHOHO, WE GOT 'EM NOW, BOYS!"

Several misshapen Jack Frost Humors leap up to surround your group and
freeze the ground beneath your feet solid!! The slick footing makes it near
impossible to fight back effectively as they swoop in to attack--but the
suddenness also means it's not an even freeze. If you can identify a solid
enough launching point, maybe you can use the ice in your favor to make a
hasty getaway. Otherwise, maybe you can (ahem) /snow/ these Frosts by
complimenting them on how sneaky their ambush was?

Either way, afterwards, one of those little origami spirits floats down
before you and unfolds into animation paper that displays the following
message:

/Sorry, the high school was a lie. Good luck! <3/

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Tsurugi, of course, is used to working with a Navigator. Just don't ask who that Navigator is or where she's at at the moment. She only pauses a moment when she hears Fuuka's voice. ''I am receiving you,'' she sends back, by reflex. An offer of guidance comes. ''... Acknowledged. Awaiting further guidance.''

She's just so... rote and formal about it. Disciplined. This may or may not be at all like it is with her fellow SEES members, but it might be a hint into how long Tsurugi has been at this.

''I will converge on your position,'' she sends back after the layout is given. ''She'' at least knows she can send messages back through the link.

She will even help protect Fuuka the rest of the way out.

She nods to Grim when they all eventually converge. "Yes." She did fight the Yuki-Onna. 'Whoever that was.' Tsurugi inclines her head to Fuuka. "That would be the Navigator. Fuuka Yamagshi, correct?"

And just then, a small origami angel-spirit floats up to them tog get their attention. Having seen Yanagi at work in Akihabara, she can now recognize it. "... The Navigator affiliated with Peacock Silk."

Shinichi Nagisa, Yanagi Nagisa. She can make an educated guesses about the connection between the two.

And soon enough is the Navigator in the flesh, decked out in her brilliantly-colored Transmutation guise. Tsurugi gives her a flat stare but doesn't say anything, as she starts to speak.

"Over there is St. Hermelin High School. Use it for a secret passage to the core of this Atelier," she tells the group. Tsurugi nods, and sets out in the lead.

"Yamagishi-san. Can you detect this passage?" she asks, after a while.

The fog isn't lighting up, and it's getting colder, and colder, and soon the reason becomes clear.

"HEE-HO! HEE-HO!" Several Jack Frosts leap out and freeze the ground beneath them to try and trap them in place.

Behind her mask, Tsurugi's eyes narrow as the Jack Frosts come into view. To the others, she notes, through Fuuka's link, ''... they are misshapen. Their form is not quite right.''

Out loud, she says, her voice suddenly switching from its flat, stoic demeanor to something much more warm and rich. "My, my. Well, ''done''. Our wits were certainly no match for yors. Please, tell me, what do you plan to do now that you have captured us?"

She's trying to keep their attention on her to give the others a chance to take action.
</poem>

MONAD: Remi Ryuuja has acted with Flattery toward The Future Promise I Walked By, Missing! Friendliness and Efficient!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>''Alright.'' Fuuka replies to Katsuko, as if she can hear her even from this distance. Tsurugi, meanwhile, doesn't seem surprised to hear her. She's used to having people heed her guidance, and SEES ''is'' pretty organized... but there's something about the way Tsurugi responds that's a little unnerving.

While guiding the others she makes her way through carefully without incident herself and, soon enough, finds the ones she spoke to. Grim... and Tsurugi. The former she recognizes from the fight against Kazusa's Homunculus... and the latter, as one of the masked women they've fought before... and, in some instances, fought alongside.

Most relevant right ''now'', she was there for the night of her Awakening. For that reason, she's willing to give her more lenience than most might.

"Hello. Yes, that's correct. Um, you're... Tsurugi-san, correct?" Fuuka confirms with a polite bow toward her and Grim both. "It's... nice to see the both of you again."

As they exit the school, they find an angel-spirit floating toward them. Fuuka studies it for a moment.

"That's... Nagisa-san?" She considers. It ''feels'' like her - and sure enough, they find her.

A secret passage... It ''would'' be convenient if such a thing existed.

"I'll scan the area for it." She replies.

They proceed... and as they do, it gets colder and colder, until...!

Hee-ho.

Jack Frosts appear to menace the party! Normally, she finds them delightful, if a little unsettling, but right now...

''...I feel it too.'' Fuuka confirms. Tsurugi engages them - and while she has their attention, Fuuka conducts her scan. The ice...

''...The slippery terrain might work against us... but I think we can use it to our advantage, too. There's enough of an incline that we can slide across it to pick up speed.'' Fuuka observes, where the Jack Frosts can't hear.
</poem>

MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Academics toward The Future Promise I Walked By, Missing! Base!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>"Yamagishi-san." Grim said in greeting, once Fuuka appeared in person. Standing in the light - or, rather, whatever passed for light in that dimly-lit mess of passageways - Grim's full figure was clear to see. Her identity, however, was not. Cloaked both by the Will of Rebellion and the mask that seemed all but fused to her face, she may as well have been a wraith stalking the Atelier for all that could be gleaned about her. "Thanks for the help. Any idea what else is in there?" Getting straight to brass tacks was perhaps not the most tactful approach, but Grim was there on business. There would be ample time for niceties once she was Katsuko again.

St Hermelin... Where had she heard the name before? Katsuko vaguely recalled something about it, but the memory was too distant and faded to be of any use. Not that she thought about it hard, or for long. Some strange, little, thing made itself known to the group, fluttering in the air before them in what was no doubt an attempt at grabbing their attention. Grim had her doubts about following it, but options were limited, and Tsurugi seemed to know the Persona from sight alone. While she didn't trust Tsurugi, she trusted that nobody present was there to kill the other.
Probably.

Grim didn't know if she wanted to believe Yanagi. The convenience of it roused her suspicions, and left her with her gaze boring into the woman, searching for any blatant signs of deception. Perhaps there were some present, perhaps not. She hadn't the time to figure it out, as Tsurugi took her at her word and followed along. Unwilling to split the group, and a little confident that Tsurugi was not the sort to trust blindly - especially since the two seemed to know each other to one degree or another - she followed along.

"Nagisa-san? Any relation to Shinichi Nagisa?" She asked, speaking once they were on the move again. It was hardly an uncommon family name, so it might have just been a coincidence, but it was worth asking all the same. There was every chance the intel could prove useful later on down the line. For now, however, making their way through the fog took priority. Grim drew her coat in as the cold grew, clenching her teeth a little as what few wisps of breath escaped her mask manifested as tendrils of vapour. A thick puff of it emerged from her when she realised - much to her consternation - that they'd blundered into a trap.

It was one thing to fall afoul of a person. It was another to do so with Jack Frosts, of all things. Those giggling little gremlins were at the perfect height for punting, Grim found herself thinking, and she might have put that notion to the test were it not for the fact that she was on rather precarious ground. Precarious enough to stop her in her tracks lest she trip and make herself more vulnerable, at least. Tsurugi created a distraction before she could act, and Fuuka's analysis helped to narrow down the available options. All that was left was to act on both.

"Just need the right angle." Katsuko muttered to Fuuka, keeping her voice low enough that Tsurugi's distraction, as well as the assorted hee-s and ho-s, kept her from being overheard. "Need to focus... We've only got one shot." She braced, she lowered, she took up a stance that spread her weight. Then, as soon as the others moved, so did she.
</poem>

MONAD: Katsuko Yoshinaga has acted with Academics toward The Future Promise I Walked By, Missing! Base!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== The Future Promise I Walked By, Missing - Round 2 =====================-
Fuuka Yamagishi Academics Success
Academics Base Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remi Ryuuja Charm Success
Flattery Friendliness and Efficient Fatigue: 0 Morale: 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katsuko Yoshinaga Academics Failure
Academics Base Fatigue: 2 Morale: 2
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Bothersome-2, Ineptitude-1, Stupor-1, and Stupor-2
Final Conditions: Bothersome-1 and Stupor-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 2/6 |== | ===================================================-
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Tsurugi nods. "... yes," she says, as Fuuka identifies her codename. "'Tsurugi' will suffice." The bow is returned with a nod of her head. She looks to Grim and inclines her head. "Grim."

Fuuka will scan... but of course, there will be no shortcut, as they'll find out shortly.

Grim asks about the connection to Shinichi. "It seems probable. Though..." She ''is'' curious what might be going on here. Is this the type of unencumbered life she would want? The kind of shackle she would seek out?

Then again, if she was doing this because she ''wanted'' to, then... is that all that inconsistent, in the end?

"... no matter." If Fuuka knows more, it will be up to her to provide it.

Fuuka scouts them a path out. ''Affirmative,'' she responds. She's got the attention of the Jack Frosts, though Grim's shot doesn't go quite as planned. But Tsurugi can hold their attention again for a second one, and once they're all free they can slide down the hill and out of the way.

Tsurugi glances to Grim once they're clear of the danger. "... you should use the Navigator Link when it is available."

And it is only then that another origami spirit appraoches and unfolds itself into a message. Tsurugi reads it... and scowls. "Grrr. What are you playing at?" She looks to Fuuka. "... can you get us back on course?"

</poem>
MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has drawn a new Challenge!

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 3 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: Taking Cover Below, We Huddle in the Dark |
| Approach Options: Academics or Guts |
| Conditions: Bothersome - Charm Down L1, Box - Add 1 Item/Money/Gear., |
| Scary - Guts Down L1, Stupor - Academics Down L1, and Stupor - Academics |
| Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

A sign for the subway guides you out of the fog and down the brick-walled
stairs to a gloomy, dilapidated station. It's eerily empty and quiet, with
shadows longer than they should be... but empty also means there's a respite
from Shadow attacks.

However, once you jump the turnstiles and inspect the rails, you'll soon
find that the trains are out of service due to being wrecked and upended,
and the tunnels are nearly all buried in rubble. However, there is /one/
tunnel that's only half-buried; the twisted remains of a train bound towards
Mikage Hospital provide a narrow path through to the other side.
Conveniently, that is your destination.

It really is a narrow path, though. The train car's steel is warped and
dented, and the rubble outside threatens to collapse through the broken
windows and bury it--and you--the rest of the way. Do you take a moment to
study the layout and identify the safest way through, or do you boldly forge
ahead as quickly as possible?

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka nods back to Grim and then looks toward Tsurugi. She hesitates for a moment as she insists on just Tsurugi... but she nods.

Fuuka scans - and it's clear that something seems a ''little'' off to her when she, indeed, turns up no shortcut. ...Is there something missing? It's highly possible Yanagi knows something she doesn't... And as for her connection to Shinichi...

"I've never met him, but... yes, it's possible." Fuuka considers. Seeing Yanagi here in the Atelier doesn't mean anything exactly - she's aware she and her people have an interest in them.

They manage to escape the Jack Frosts, and sure enough... There's no shortcut. Just one of Yanagi's spirits telling them that the high school was a lie.

"...Why would she do that?" Fuuka asks, pouting a little. The lie stings... but it's a valuable reminder that she really should trust her own judgment. She nods toward Tsurugi. "...Yes. Give me a moment."

She's able to put them back on course. There's a subway that ''should'' allow them to get out of this fog. But at the same time...

"...Be careful - there's an obstruction." She warns. ...It's a little eerie down here, in this abandoned subway. The shadows loom. But thankfully, it's free of Shadows - but before long, they see the 'obstruction' Fuuka mentioned. The trains are wrecked and up-ended, and there's only one tunnel left...

In fact, at a glance, it might seem like it's inaccessible.

"Um... it doesn't look like it, but there ''is'' a path through it." Fuuka explains. "We'll have to be careful, though... but quick, too."
</poem>

MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Analytical toward Taking Cover Below, We Huddle in the Dark! Automap!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Grim nodded back at Fuuka's confirmation of the possibility.
"I'll keep my eyes open for any more links. If there's any relation, we might be able to use that to our advantage." It was perhaps a little cold of her to say it, but it was their lives - and Shinichi's - on the line.

Inwardly, Grim cursed her luck when it came to esaping the Jack Frosts. She was certain she'd calculated the best way to approach, the best angle, the way her weight should have been distributed, and everything else she needed. But when put into practice, everything collapsed, and so did she. Tsurugi's efforts kept her from getting attacked, but it was small comfort. Outwardly, Grim simply cursed. It came out as a quiet hiss, more an expression of surprise and frustration than any kind of pain, but the end result was the same. She salvaged what dignity she could by raising quickly to her feet, she dusted herself off, and then refused to speak about it.

"Understood." Grim said plainly back to Tsurugi. No need to dwell on the subject any longer than she had to. If half the things that had been said about Tsurugi were true, there was plenty about the woman to take umbrage with, but she at least seemed to be a professional that knew how to conduct herself. That was something Grim could respect. Someone that had not gained her respect, however, was Yanagi. "A trick...? What's she got to gain from doing that...?" Grim asked, more questioning than disbelieving. The question, to her, wasn't if there was a scheme running - it was what kind of scheme was running.

"An Ateleir is supposed to be a reflection of someone's soul and memories, isn't it?" Grim asked. It was a rhetorical question - and a rather oversimplified one at that - but the crude explanation would have to do, for the sake of time. "Then why so much ruin? Why this?" Was it metaphorical, and a representation of something Shinichi - not the parasite puppeteering his skin - felt? A literal insight into a part of his past? She didn't know Shinichi well enoguh to weigh in on it, but if either of the others had any thoughts, she was keen to hear them.

"I see it." She said, when Fuuka pointed out the path forward. Beneath the mask, sharp eyes darted from point to point, drawing lines in her mind to map the way forward. Stay light on your feet and keep moving. Last thing we need's to be trapped here."
</poem>

MONAD: Katsuko Yoshinaga has acted with Infer toward Taking Cover Below, We Huddle in the Dark! Specialty!

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"I do not know.," Tsurugi says to Fuuka. It's entirely possible Yanagi did that to take a swipe at ''her''--their history isn't exactly the most positive, after all.

She'll have to remember to stay on her guard, around Yanagi.

She will trust Fuuka's judgement in putting them back on track, though. "Very well."

There is ''plenty'' to take umbrage with Tsurugi out. But, bewilderingly, she has also seemingly seemed to help the greater good. Is that of her own will? Part of some grand scheme or plot? Who could say, at this point.

As for the ruin Grim speculates on... "I do not know. Mikage-cho was the sight of a horrific accident. It might bear looking into." It's their destination, and she can make a guess from the subway station and the elementary school that the have encountered and are about to encounter.

They make their way... to a subway. Tsurugi frowns behind her mask as she studies the wreckage. She looks when Fuuka points out the seemingly unlikely path. "... good. Then it would be best to move quickly and stay light on our feet. I will take point--track my path, so you two may follow."

She summons La Maupin for a quick cast of Sukukaja, winds rushing up to envelop her... and then she stares straight ahead as she charges down that route., moving swiftly. La Maupin will also give the same buff to Grim and Fuuka when they make their go at it.
</poem>

MONAD: Remi Ryuuja has acted with Unflinching Stare toward Taking Cover Below, We Huddle in the Dark! Focus and Patra!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== Taking Cover Below, We Huddle in the Dark - Round 3 ===================-
Fuuka Yamagishi Guts Failure
Analytical Automap Fatigue: 2 Morale: 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remi Ryuuja Guts Success
Unflinching Stare Focus and Patra Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katsuko Yoshinaga Academics Success
Infer Specialty Fatigue: 2 Morale: 4
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Bothersome-1, Box-0, Scary-2, Stupor-1, and Stupor-2
Final Conditions: Scary-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 1, Money: 0, Gear: 1
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka hesitates ''just'' a little at Grim's cold response, but... she supposed she should expect that from someone codenamed ''Grim''.

"...Okay. Keep us informed." She replies with a nod.
at ''does'' Yanagi stand to gain from tricking them? Grim raises another good point. An Atelier reflects someone's soul and memories, so what does it say that Shinichi's looks like this?

Tsurugi explains that Mikage-cho was the site of a horrific accident, then.

"...Did he... witness it, then, perhaps? If it looked anything half like this in reality... I can see how the sight would stick with one so thoroughly it reflects in their inner world." Fuuka considers thoughtfully.

Grim and Tsurugi follow her guidance. The pathway she finds is real, and the two of them are agile enough to make it through the twisted passageway with little difficult.

Fuuka has taken all the variables in mind. All the possible risks and challenges they might face as they cross through the collapsed car to the otherside. Everything except for one, small detail.

...Her own relative lack of athletics. This work is good for exercise, but being a Navigator - and one who supports from the back row, besides - means she doesn't do as much of the upfront fighting and so...

"Ah..." Fuuka pauses hesitantly. She quails a little, and then admits with a hint of embarrassment... "...I'm stuck. Please help me."

They'll need to double back and bail her out - but they still make good time, even considering that.
</poem>

MONAD: Katsuko Yoshinaga has drawn a new Challenge!

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 4 - Challenge Level 3 ===========================================-
| Card: When Faced With What I'd Done, I Ran |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Guts |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, Curse - -1 to Group Roll (Per |
| Character), Scary - Guts Down L1, and Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

Eventually you come to a towering hospital, shrouded in mist. A single
window on the third floor flickers with a glowing shade of crimson,
eternally lit in the night.

The hospital lobby looks welcoming, but perhaps a side entrance would be the
best approach.

Pushing through a half-cracked door, it begins to creak behind you. And who
should you see then, but the Homunculus, in a ball cap and faded coat, with
a hood draped over its top.

Right before he casually brings up an arm, and pulls the fire alarm, tearing
it out of the wall as he does so, letting it dangle on so many wires.

A horrendous ringing overhead occurs, as an announcement on the loudspeaker
cries out: "CODE RED! FIRST FLOOR HALL!" And countless howls answer it.

He then turns and begins to walk away, any attempt to come after him cut off
by countless doors bursting open.

Melanc Humors dressed as Orderlies in padded armor, wielding sticks the size
of people, numerous Coleric Humor Zombies swarm your way.

You can try to fight them all, but it will be an enormous slog with that
alarm still going off. Or you could always try to disable the alarm- or if
not that, then finding a place to hide until it's over.

The choice is yours

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>"Understood. I'll make a note of it." Grim said, curtly acknowledging Tsurugi's suggestion. Her response was short more out of professionalism than any desire to be rude. They had a job to do, after all, and looking up the Mikage-cho incident was something that could wait until after they weren't in a life-or-death situation. Fuuka's response left Grim completely quiet, however. No response came for a tense few seconds, but there was no telling what she was thinking with that mask shrouding even the faintest hint of an expression. "...More than you know." She eventually said, hoping to confirm Fuuka's assessment - but dissuade any inquiry into her own knowledge with a warning tone.

Grim darted behind Tsurugi, always a step behind, but never more than two. Once more, she was like a shadow, but more in the sense that she kept close and followed the path near-flawlessly. The only time she stopped was when she heard Fuuka's distress, but the pause lasted no more than a moment. She turned, darted in, and heaved her up with whatever strength her supernatural gifts allowed. "Come on. Not far now." She said, only letting go once she was certain the both of them were on stable ground.

The approach into the hospital was a quick and quiet one. No need to draw more attention than they had to - brute forcing their way in could wait until the final assault. This was just a scouting mission, and for that, the side entrance was more than enough. But when she sighted Shinichi's Homunculus, Grim couldn't help but ready her rifle, preparing for a confrontation with that wretched thing. Her taloned gloves hid it, but the her knuckles grew just a shade whiter than they might normally have, and her stance was just a touch more tense than it had been against Kazusa's.

"Careful. That's the Hom-"
Blaring alarms cut Grim off before she could finish, and a grunt of abject frustration escaped past her mask. "Damn it. No way through." She spat, bringing the barrel of her gun to bear, and summoning Dantes to the fore. "Yamagishi-san, we need a route out, or somewhere to hide. "Tsurugi-san. Help me buy her some time. I have no intention of letting some jumped-up corpses stop us."
</poem>

MONAD: Katsuko Yoshinaga has acted with Vow toward When Faced With What I'd Done, I Ran! Focus and Patra!

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka wonders if Shinichi saw the accident. "... perhaps. It could explain why the demons are misshapen. An artifact of recall, perhaps. Or the suppression of the supernatural from the conscious memory."

She will, of course, go back for Fuuka. And she won't even make any remark about it.

She stops, to look at the red light in the window. "... the only light in the entire hospital..." she murmurs. That must be their target.

They step inside and-- the hooded figure. Tsurugi starts to ''sprint'' forward--only for the alarm to get pulled first. She skids to a stop as her head whips around to track the noises. Not ideal.

She's one step ahead of Grim as she pulls her Evoker out. "La Maupin!" she calls out, and her Persona rises up beside her, in a straightjacket with sleeves unbound, clutching a tattered rapier through the sleeve.

Her own rapier is out in the next instant--Grim might appreciate that it has an ice motif, along with the ice-motifed crest on the chest of her fencing suit.

"Go with the Navigator when she finds a path, I will bring up the rear!" she replies to Grim.

It's not ice that she summons forth, though, but ''fire''. Both the blades of La Maupin and Tsurugi ignite, and the two begin a deadly dance as they rush forward to take on the oncoming hordes.
</poem>

MONAD: Remi Ryuuja has acted with Dramatis Persona toward When Faced With What I'd Done, I Ran! Diligence and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>'More than she knows'... A frown crosses Fuuka's face.

"I see..." She murmurs. There's a weight to her answer. Does Grim have experience to that, too? What all has she been through...? She looks toward Tsurugi, then, as she puts forth some theories.

"Maybe..." She considers thoughtfully.

They arrive at a towering hospital. A single window glows crimson. ...That must be their destination. They enter carefully... but they arrive to find a certain someone already here.

"That's him?" Fuuka whispers. And before Grim can confirm, the Homunculus practically ''tears'' the fire alarm off of the wall, leaving it dangling by the wires before leaving. Their path is blocked by Humors dressed as Orderlies, as well as zombies...

They need to find a way out of this situation. It's dangerous - but fortunately, Fuuka's good at keeping a cool head in situations like this. Finding a path...

...Even if they find one, they'll be right back where they started if enemies continue to search for them.

"Give me a moment!" Fuuka replies - and instead goes for the fire alarm. He probably expected to render it unusable... but he didn't know to expect ''her''. She draws some tools from her belt next to the holster of her Evoker and gets to work.

If she can repair the damage he did to the fire alarm, she can turn it off and, hopefully, call off the Humors.
</poem>

MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Technician toward When Faced With What I'd Done, I Ran! Find and Focus!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== When Faced With What I'd Done, I Ran - Round 4 ========================-
Fuuka Yamagishi Proficiency Failure
Technician Find and Focus Fatigue: 3 Morale: 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remi Ryuuja Proficiency Success
Dramatis Persona Diligence and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katsuko Yoshinaga Guts Failure
Vow Focus and Patra Fatigue: 4 Morale: 5
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Clumsy-2, Curse-0, Scary-1, and Terrifying-2
Final Conditions: Clumsy-1
-================================================= Party Result: Failure ====-
-==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 1, Money: 2, Gear: 1
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>The ice motifs were noted, and the faintest hint of a smile - little more than her lips curling some vague fraction of an inch - crept onto her lips. It lasted all of a moment before she refocussed her attention on the massed hordes, but it had been there, and Grim knew it. The smile was not to return any time soon, however. Both her Persona and her weapon were not built to handle massed hordes of chaff, so when that great number of them rushed the intruders, there was only so much Grim could do.

"We're losing ground." She spat. Frustration inched its way into her voice now. It was slight, like ice creeping over the surface of still water, but there nonetheless. "Yamagishi-san, whatever you're doing, hurry it up. We don't have much time." Unable to take her eyes off of the fight, Grim failed to notice that the fire alarm was beyond salvaging. Fuuka's abilities as a technician were formidable, but there was only so much that could be done on something ripped to shreds. Assuming it even followed the laws of the physical world in the first place.
</poem>

MONAD: Remi Ryuuja has drawn a new Challenge!

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 5 - Challenge Level 3 ===========================================-
| Card: Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Charm |
| Conditions: Annoying - Charm Down L2, Boss - Add 1 Fatigue on failure., |
| Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, and Ineptitude - Proficiency Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

The elevator is out of order, forcing one to use the stairs to get up to the
third floor.

Once in the hallway, you can see the crimson glow of room 302 peering
through the cracks of the door.

Unfortunately, there's a Melanc Humor in the hallway, nearly three meters
tall, long spindly arms, holding a clipboard, and wearing a white coat- as
it stands over a Faceless Sanguine Nurse, still twitching upon the floor.

Upon his face is a perpetual, tired, apathetic look. "Time of Death, Fifteen
Thirty Two." As he casts Mudoon, and the Sanguine Nurse erupts, becoming a
pool of shapeless Ichor.

He then turns towards your group.

"So sad. So heart-breaking. I need to go on break... but I shouldn't. It's
so busy right now. So many patients are dying who need me to call them. So
little time. So little time."

He then moves forward, creeping on far too long legs, as his eyes glint with
the barest sliver of malice behind their sorrow, "Time of death, Fifteen
Thirty Three." And begins to cast Mudoon at one of you.

A direct fight is extremely dangerous, but unavoidable it would seem. Or is
it? There may be hope in convincing this Melanc Humor to go on break rather
than continue 'working'.

Of course, if you do fight it, it's not so much a matter of powering
through, as avoiding the dangerous Mudoon spell, cast repeatedly long enough
to score a decisive blow.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka asks for a moment. "Acknowledged!" comes Tsurugi's quick reply as she leaps, trailing fire behind her as she slaps her sword down into another zombie. La Maupin, likewise, ducks low under the attack of another to sweep up.

"But work fast!" she adds.

Grim might not be suited to handling hordes, but Tsurugi looks very practiced--bizarrely calm, even.

But there's difficulty in getting the alarm working. "The stairs!" Tsurugi shouts. After they start heading that way, she shouts, "Loading Skill Cartridge!"

This might be of interest to Fuuka--not a ''Theurgy'' cartridge (though Tsurugi has used one of those, too), but a ''Skill'' cartridge. Her Evoker is styled like a revolver, heavier and of a darker metal than the SEES-issued kind. And she loads what is presumably the skill cartridge into the cylinder before lifting it to her head to fire.

And a moment later, La MAupin surges with Resonance and throws their hand out, summoning a giant nuclear blast to try and take out a swarm all at once to provide cover for the escape.

Tsurugi's fire magic tends towards Agi, but that spell was definitely a Frei variant.

It gets esier, once they're away from the ringing, and eventually, they get to floor 3.

Where a towering Melanc humor is, busy... ''melting'' a nurse humor with the casting of Mudoon.

"So sad. So heart-breaking. I need to go on break... but I shouldn't. It's so busy right now. So many patients are dying who need me to call them. So little time. So little time."

And Unfortunately, he spots them and starts to advance.

"I will hold its attention," she says. "Try to slip around it."

And then she just... walks up to the Melanc humor, her voice shifting its pitch once again, taking on a sweeter, honeyed tone. "... Doctor, you've been working ''such'' long hours... don't you think you deserve a break for all of your selfless, tiring work? You've done your share--you've earned a rest."
</poem>

MONAD: Remi Ryuuja has acted with Flattery toward Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder! Friendliness and Efficient!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>It's difficult. Fuuka is an expert with technology, and even with wiring... But it's like this place is working against her. It's harder than it should be, and eventually they have to run.

As they do, her eyes are drawn toward Tsurugi's Evoker. She's seen the model before in another's hands, but this is her first time being able to see it from up so close. She takes note of every detail she can. And the cartridge she loads into it...

It's nuclear flame that erupts forth. A Frei cartridge, then...?

They have to take the stairs, and Fuuka shudders at the sight that meets them in the hallway.

"...How awful." She mutters. But the Humor turns upon them, next.

Lucia is weak against Dark. Fuuka would very much not like to be the recipient of the next Mudoon.

Fortunately, Tsurugi takes point in trying to distract him. ...She didn't think about it before, but it's a little interesting that someone who is normally so deadpan is capable of switching on the charm so quickly. Fuuka considers her for a moment - but she can't squander this opening.

She slips into one of the nearby rooms. If they can't convince the Humor to take a break, maybe they can at least trick him into thinking there's a patient that needs him.

She draws out her tools and gets to work again, trying to get the call button working. Maybe that'll go better than the alarm...
</poem>

MONAD: Fuuka Yamagishi has acted with Technician toward Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder! Find and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Shot after shot rang out, with each one barely aimed. It pained Katsuko to fire wildly, but with so many advancing towards them, it was harder to *not* hit something, as long as she fired in even the vaguely correct direction. Ushering Fuuka to move forward first - purely because she was less capable a combatant than Grim and Tsurugi, of course - Grim followed close behind. With a few more potshots to take out any stragglers that threatened to catch up with them, Grim moved onto the stairs, and lowered her rifle.

She briefly considered bringing it to bear again upon seeing how the good doctor decided to treat his patients, but Tsurugi moved to act before she had a chance to plot an assassination attempt. Fuuka set to work on the electronics again in the meantime, freeing Katsuko to enact a plan of her own.
"The doctor requires help." She told a nurse, speaking just urgently enough - she hoped - to convince the Atelier's inhabitant of the situation's urgency. "There's a lot of sick people here. Go find him, and tell him you'll help, or they'll only get worse."

Perhaps the nurse would help convince the doctor to take a break by assuring him that someone competent would fill in. Or perhaps the act was just to provide the Mudoon-slinging medical practitioner with another target, and give Tsurugi an out. Grim didn't seem inclined to say which.
</poem>

MONAD: Katsuko Yoshinaga has acted with Puppeteer toward Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder! Focus and Efficient!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder - Round 5 ===================-
Fuuka Yamagishi Proficiency Failure
Technician Find and Focus Fatigue: 5 Morale: 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remi Ryuuja Charm Failure
Flattery Friendliness and Efficient Fatigue: 3 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katsuko Yoshinaga Charm Success
Puppeteer Focus and Efficient Fatigue: 5 Morale: 5
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Annoying-2, Boss-0, Clumsy-1, and Ineptitude-2
Final Conditions: Annoying-1 and Ineptitude-1
-================================================= Party Result: Failure ====-
-==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 2, Money: 3, Gear: 1
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 6 - Challenge Level 1 ===========================================-
| Card: To Move Forward is to Accept the Weight |
| Approach Options: None |
| Conditions: Revelation - The best result. |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

The door knob of Room 302 is warm. A little too warm. Enough to make one
hesitate in worry that there's a fire behind it.

But as it opens, the red is revealed to be countless Higanbana, Red Spider
Lily flowers, lining the floor, the walls, the ceiling of a far too large
room. The walls move as if a sky full of clouds in animation, behind shadowy
bars and crimson blossoms.

In the middle of the room is a hospital bed, with a cocoon whose webbing is
stretched to encircle the bed from so many sides, like a restraint to keep
it there. A monitor floats in space above it, several wires connected to the
Cocoon, with an EKG tracing of beeps that are coming far, too slowly.

There isn't much time left.

A Sanguine Humor lays upon the floor, dying, a crimson blossom clutched in
her hand. Reaching towards you, she offers it, before expiring herself, as
crimson blossoms grow over her, consuming her in a rapid decay.

The Blossom itself will never decay, and has a faint shine to it that would
make any botanist in reality think it's fake, but it can be used for potent
cognitive alchemy to create equipment associated with Death or Rebirth, it's
always either red or white in color. So too can they be traded to the Velvet
Room and Time Castle for a set of powerful Skill Cards related to Light or
Dark.

The room itself shifts, vision narrowing. Now the room itself pulses out of
synch with the electronic beeps on the monitor, quickening. Like a predator
ready for the kill.

The Homunculus is here. Even if you can't see him.

Final Loot: 3 Items, 3 boxes of Money, and 2 Pieces of Gear! That could
be... Gear: Death Weapon, Gear: Horror Accessory, Item: Alchemy Key, Item:
Death Material, Item: Horror Consumable, Money: Cash, Money: Death Gems, or
Money: Horror Art!
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
That ''is'' rather interesting, isn't it Fuuka? How could someone end up that way, do you wonder? ... Now probably isn't the time to stop and ask her though, with that Mudoon-casting Melanc so close.

Fuuka slips off to try with the call button--but frustratingly, ''nothing'' in this hospital seems to be working right. Is it that the place really ''doesn't'' follow the rules of the normal world? Or, perhaps, it's a reflection of how close to the Homunculus' seat of power they are? Who can say.

Meanwhile, Grim has the idea to try and direct a nurse towards the Melanc humor to provide reassurances. Now, a subdued Melanc could, in fact, be tamed by a Flegmat Humor. (Or, more likely, a whole group of them.)

... But this is not a sbudued Melanc Humor. Tsurugi's sweet-talking attempt fails, though she doesn't seem too concerned as the melanc rears back to begin another cast of the spell--

As she ''flips'' backwards suddenly, over the head of the poor, sacrificial nurse, and ''kicks'' her forward into the path of the spell.

"... hard way it is, then," she says, her voice back to its stoic deadpan.

It is a very tough battle. But Fuuka being in the hospital room gives her cover, and it is ''eventually'' subdued, at a great toll on their energy.

And with it subdued, they are able to approach Room 302. Tsurugi places a hand on the door, frowns, and then steps to the ''side'' to open it, using the door as a shield.

(She's weak to Fire, see. And if one researche the history of La Maupin, they may understand why.)

But they enter the door. A Cocoon, hoesting a life with seemingly not much time left. "... that would be the victim," Tsurugi notes.

But then a Sanguin humor offers them a rare, precious flower. Up close, and especially having seen the real article earlier, it's unmistakeable:

The Sanguin looks like Yanagi Nagisa. She offers a flower, bright and precious, before she expires. Tsurugi will let someone else claim the flower, but she knees to feel the Humor's pulse. "A Sanguin Humor, if I am not mistaken. Now why should they bear her appearance..."

But all too soon it's clear, that danger lurks. "We can't stay here long."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka frowns, finding herself frustrated again as this place rejects her expertise. This is supposed to be something she's good at... It's a sign of how bad the situation this is, she supposes.

Things don't seem to go any better with the Humor, either. They're wounded and exhausted... but they ''are'' able to reach Room 302, where that ominous red light shines.

And here, they find the Cocoon. Fuuka draws in a sharp breath.

"...Yes." Fuuka murmurs with a nod. "We have to hurry."

There isn't much they can do right here and right now... but at least this is a step in the right direction.

But aside from the Cocoon, there is also a Sanguine Humor.Fuuka gasps, hurrying to her side.

"Are you alright?" She asks, kneeling down close. In that moment, she can see her face - and she who she resembles. Fuuka's eyes open wide... but when she reaches toward them all, offering a flower, Fuuka reaches back.

She accepts the crimson blossom - and her breath catches in her throat as similar flowers bloom across her form.

...Even if she's a Shadow, it's... no easier watching it happen.

"...Yes." Fuuka replies after a moment, looking toward Tsurugi. "Maybe... our suspicions were correct."

About Yanagi and Shinichi being connected. And after a moment longer... she nods, rising to her feet. She takes one last look back before hurrying off, still clutching the flower she was given.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>The nurse did not do a very good job of convincing her superior to take the rest he so sorely needed. What she did do a very good job of was acting as a meatshield for Tsurugi, and giving her just enough time to move away from a Mudoon. Grim wasted no time in following through, and through blade, bullet, and black magic, she played her part in felling the foul beast. It was a Herculean task that left her drained to the core, but it had been done, and they could proceed.

"So they *are* connected... Family, maybe. Someone close?"" Grim muttered, leaning in close to get a better look at the Sanguin Humour. It was idle musing on Grim's part - working alone had its advantages, but without the network of intel that the others shared, even she recognised that getting the full picture was difficult at best. "I'm going to look into it." Whatever other insights she might have had - be it about the flower, the Cocoon, or anything else in the room - were kept to herself when the room began to shift. Grim stepped back, looked to the others to make sure they were in fit enough shape to leave, then turned.

One moment Grim was in the light, the silver accents of her garb glinting like a talon's edge. The next, she was in the shadows, and vanished into them like a wraith.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-29: You Remember

2026-09-30T04:34:45Z

Talnora: Talnora moved page 2026-09-29: You Remember to 2026-09-29: You Remember?: Adding question mark to the title

#REDIRECT [[2026-09-29: You Remember?]]

2026-09-29: You Remember?

2026-09-30T04:34:45Z

Talnora: Talnora moved page 2026-09-29: You Remember to 2026-09-29: You Remember?: Adding question mark to the title

*'''Log: You Remember?'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Hana Fukami]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Station
*'''OOC Date:''' September 29, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Thursday, January 17, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Ririka reaches out to Hana to make sure she's doing okay after her harrowing encounter in the Kingdom. It turns out, Hana remembers, so they can talk about that and a number of other topics.''

----

(|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
The intersection of high speed rail along the coast of Tokyo and Tatsumi Port
Island's monorail line from the mainland across the sea to its artificial
island, Iwatodai Station is the cornerstone of daily life to the inhabitants of
this place. Even the most jaded salaryman could get lost in the experience of
looking out upon the glittering sea as they ride across it to their daily life.

A multi-story strip mall across the street from the station offers students such
selections as Wakatsu for sushi high in omega-3s to increase that brain power,
Hagakure Ramen with all the collagen you could desire for skin care, or even
Wilduck's infamous Mystery Burger for those who desire an impromptu test of
courage. Net cafes selling some of the latest releases and hole-in-the-wall
bookstores give people endless options of what to do with their evening.

With this blend of local flavor and modern convenience, Iwatodai Station truly
is the ideal option to stop by whether you're coming or going home.

BGM - Tranquility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvwVzA1z44

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka was concerned about Hana, but hadn't wanted to ''intrude'' after her surely harrowing experience. She wasn't sure how much Hana would remember after getting out of the Kingdom, so opted to give her a couple of days before reaching out via text.

She was surprised to get a text message back, and so quickly. After all, to Hana's perspective, it must be the case they've only met the once, right? But if some part of the experience stuck with her... well, Ririka will play it by ear.

It's a bit later in the evening since she came out to her band, and there's definitely a chill in the air. Ririka's suggested a burger place that's near the Iwatodai station, and she's already waiting outside, checking her phone, and humming to herself as she waits.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
It was pretty harrowing, as it happens. And Hana has needed somet ime to attend to certain matters. But when Ririka called her... Of course, Hana is aware that she helped. She hasn't immediately decided whether she's going to let on this fact, not just yet. ...But probably.

it's chilly, and Hana as she approaches from the parking area is wearing a thick pink coat. She smiles, spotting Ririka.

"Hi, Kawase-chan," Hana greets her. "Glad I got the place right!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's wearing a darker jacket and cargo pants, fthough of course she's got a flannel on underneath. She looks up, a bit relieved when she sees Hana. "Hey, Fukami-san. I hope you found the place okay."

She notes the -chan and isn't immediately sure how to process that, but her own tone is friendly. "Are burgers okay? Mom's kiiinda got a craving for something they sell here, so... thought I'd save myself an extra stop. But there's a bunch of other places nearby."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
It's not that unusual! It's still lastname, after all. Hana... recognizes the flannel.

Of course.

"I did," Hana answers. And then smiles. "Sure," she says. "Burgers are just fine. I like a good burger."

She'll head in when Ririka does. But, before that...

"Thanks, too," she says. "For helping."

Then, "Once we sit down, you can tell me what you wanted to talk about?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's just getting in her own head again. It's fine.

"Cool. And, me too." She might have a bit of an appetite.

She'll head in immediately! But she pauses when Hana thanks her. Ririka looks at Hana for a long moment and then slowly nods. "... you're welcome. So... you remember?" she asks cautiously.

"Oh, I just... wanted to see if you were okay after the whole... terrorist attack." There's almost air quotes there.

But, she will order for herself (she'll pick up her mom's order on her way out) and find a corner table to sit at.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"It's nice that you're picking something up for your mother. It's a conscientious thing to do."

Ririka pauses--and Hana looks right back at her. "I remember a lot," she says, which leaves the possibility that there are things she doesn't, but...

"Oh. Well, that's kind of you."

Hana also orders--she might take something home for someone, but right now, she's focused on having a small something for herself, since it's about that time.

At the table...

"I'm all right," Hana says. "It was pretty harrowing, and apparently I lost a few days... It didn't feel like it took as long to me as it seems to have really taken."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, yeah. Thanks." Ririka tries to be conscientious when she can. "She's pregnant, so I'm trying..."

But she does remember, at least 'a lot'. Ririka nods slowly. "Then... that's... well, that's why I wanted to see how you were doing."

Ririka got herself a little more than a small something. Losing a few days, though. "I can imagine... I'm just glad we were able to get you out of there safely, in the end."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Oh!" Hana smiles. "Congratulations," she says. "...Hmmm." She considers it; at Ririka's age... "That must be something, having a younger sibling at your age."

"I see! Well, that's still kind of you," she says. "You all were very impressive."

"But I am, too. ...I was able to deal with the 'real' Producer myself. ...it wasn't as exciting as the big fight, but I think it went well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks! I'm happy for her." But Hana guesses the awkwardness. Ririka slowly nods. "Yeah, it's..." She sighs. "Weird, for a lot of reasons? Like, it's ''good'', but... also weird."

"We were? Well, I'm glad to her it," she says with a soft laugh.

But the ''real'' Producer. "Whoa, really? That's great! Hopefully he won't be causing you any more problems, then..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Of course," Hana replies to being happy for her. But, it's... weird. "That makes sense. I come from a large family, myself. Four brothers!" The older of the two smiles. "It's all right if it's a little weird, I think."

Nodding, Hana continues, "Yes! Good."

Then, "He won't," Hana says, and she sounds very certain about that. "In the end, all I had to do was stand up to him. ...But until all that happened, I didn't know that I could."

"A lot of things are like that, I suppose."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"I have an older sister and I..." Ririka pauses for a moment. "... had an older brother. He passed away, a few years ago. I'm the youngest. Or, well, I was."

"If you're sure, then, good." Ririka smiles. "I guess if it was always that easy to deal with... things would be a lot different."

"But, I'm glad you figured out you could. I've been thinking about some things since that big fight, too..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"I see. I'm sorry." Hana does look sympathetic; she doesn't linger, though. Instead, "At least I know what it's like to not be the youngest anymore. It takes some adapting."

She is sure! "They would," Hana agrees of things being very different.

"It got me thinking about a lot of things, too. ...But what's on your mind?" she asks. "Anything you'd like to share?"

She assumes so, considering.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks. It's..." Well, she's said complicated already. ".. yeah. Guess I'm gonna have to get used to being an older sister." But Hana knows what it's like, too. "Got any tips for an older sister-to-be?"

"Can I ask what you were thinking about?"

She nods. "Yeah, I... came out to my band earlier. I... wanted to speak up at the big fight, but I wasn't really ready for it. So... I took a smaller step instead."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"It takes time, but you can do it--it helps that you're a bit older, so you can pivot to 'helping'. ...But remember your new sibling is your ''sibling'', not your child, too." Pause. "Mostly that. Don't be afraid to show the way."

"Hmmm..." What has she been thinking about? "A few things. For one, what I'll do from here about... everything, I suppose. Relationships... my show. There's a lot."

She smiles. "Congratulations," she says. "You go at your own pace--there's no shame in that at all. How'd it go?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"I'll do my best to help, but... it just feels like... gradution is next year, you know? Like I'm about to starting my life while my new sibling is still just a little kid, you know?"

She nods. "But I'll remember that. Thanks."

Ririka wants to be supportive, but she's not going to pretend she can offer anything to an adult about their polyamorous relationship. "You gonna stick with your TV show or try something new?"

"Thanks!" She nods. "Yeah, I... can at least be supportive of everyone else. And it went... pretty good, I think. I was a little--well a ''lot''--nervous, they were a little surprised, but... also supportive. I'm gonna see about bringing Ikumi-chan around to band practice sometime, or maybe our next show."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Yes," Hana says. "That makes sense! It'll be an interesting experience, I'm sure."

Hana isn't going to ask on that front, of course; some things the adult doesn't ask of the teenager in the first place. "I'm keeping my show," Hana says, "For as long as they let me. But I may try to shake things up a little... Before, I was really enforcing the gender binary some, myself--just by virtue of working so hard at it. If I take a more natural approach... It may resonate with viewers, or it may annoy the producers. I don't know yet."

"I'm sure you were! I didn't really start coming out to people beyond a couple until I was in university, myself." She smiles. "I'm glad. And that sounds like a wonderful idea!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah... It sure will be. I wonder how the world's gonna change as they grow up..."

"Cool!" Ririka says of Hana's TV show. "Oh yeah, I guess it could've been like that, huh..." She grins a little. "I sure wouldn't object to the gender binary being a little looser. So, good luck!"

"I haven't really come out to a ''lot'' of people. Just, my family, my band, one person clocked ''me'' but it was okay because he's also gay, you, Shimizu-san." She shrugs a little. "There's a couple more I'm thinking of, but... I think that'll be good, for now."

Ririka considers for a moment. "What was it like for you in college? Coming out more, I mean. Like, were people cool about it, or...?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"You might be part of how it does!" Hana says to Ririka. "There's no limit."

She smiles, at first a little distantly, and then a little more warmly. "Yes," Hana says. "I don't imagine I'll be changing gender roles all over Japan... but if I can teach people there's a little room to be different, maybe that'll help."

Not a lot, but... Hmm. "I see. Well, a supportive family is a great start."

Ririka asks that, and Hana nods. "Well," she says, "I had a lot of gay friends--and I spent a ''lot'' of my time in the gay district in Shinjuku. So I had a great community. Outside that community... it was harder. I mostly had to keep things to myself some other places."

"...And of course, there are difficulties with being 'out' today. I respect people who can't be... But since I have to be, I want to support those who do, too."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka can't help but smile a little. "It'd be.. really cool, if I did. I'd like to be. Maybe someday..."

"Let's hope. Like... I'm a girl, but I also like skateboarding, but that doesn't mean I also don't just... like looking nice sometimes."

(She's still a little annoyed Junpei made things weird on the Yakushima trip.)

"Yeah. And I know I'm lucky that they are."

A lot of gay friends... and the gay district in Shinjuku. Ririka perks up at that. "Knowing a lot of other people like you would definitely help..." she muses quietly. She nods sympathetically, about Hana keeping things to herself.

"That's good. I think... someday I want to be more out. Maybe even connected to my music. But I'm gonna start small. I've got a song I'm working on that I think is coming along nicely..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"Then keep at it."

"Right. You can have layers, as a person. Just having a few interests that aren't traditional doesn't have to mean you've thrown everything out, either."

Ririka seems interested in the idea, and Hana nods. "You're a little young for things there, but it sounds like you're making friends your own age with this sort of thing in common with you--and that's great!"

"Well, good luck," Hana says. "What i said before about how it's eazier not to rock the boat..."

"Well. Sometimes the boat needs rocking, too. Maybe youc an shwo me your song sometime, when it's done."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, exactly. Like, what did he expect me to do, wear all my leather stuff to the ''beach''? I mean, c'mon." Ririka you might need to back up a little bit and explain.

A little young. Ririka blushes a little. "Eh heh... r-right." But she smiles and nods. But making friends! "Yeah! And it's really helped a lot knowing I have people I can talk to. It.. makes things feel a little less lonely, you know?"

But rocking the boat... Ririka nods firmly. "I'll keep that in mind. It'll be... easier, now that I've told my band. We can talk about it and figure out how to do it." She smiles. "Sure! I'd love to. I've got a demo version that's just me and guitar I could send you if you wanna hear it?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
<poem>
"...?" Hana tilts her head. But she decides not to ask. Instead...

The fact taht Ririka blushes just at being told there's stuff she's too young for makes Hana all the surer she's too young. So she focuses instead on, "Good. ..It can be lonely. But when you make your community... It really becomes worth it."

"Good," she says. "WEll, that sounds lovely! Just send it to me when you're ready."

She'll probably pick something up to take home, too..
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka might explain someday, if asked. But for now...

She's not ''that'' young. She'll be 18 in July!

"Yeah... Even just coming out to the few people I have feels... a lot lighter, you know?" The fact that her sister is going to be part of that community is exciting, too, but Ririka won't bring that up here.

"Sure!" Ririka finishes her meal. "Thanks for the talk. And I'm really glad to see that you're doing okay. Um... if you notice anything else weird or out of the ordinary, you can reach out, okay?"

"I'll send you the demo when I get home. Thanks again, Fukami-senpai."

She'll stop to get her mother's order, and then she'll get going home.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-29: You Remember?

2026-09-30T04:34:19Z

Talnora: It's always good to have guidance...

2026-09-29: Widening the Circle

2026-09-30T00:37:17Z

Talnora: One step at a time.

*'''Cutscene: Widening the Circle'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ririka Kawase]], Emi Takeda, Takumi Sasaki, Tomori Nakajima, Hiroshi Oda (Ririka's Bandmates)
*'''Where:''' Kawase Household, Iwatodai City
*'''OOC Date:''' September 29, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Thursday, January 17, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Ririka has been thinking a lot of thoughts since witnessing the fight in [[2026-09-25:_Ignition|Hana's Kingdom]]. Her failure to take a specific action there spurs her on to take a more measured step with her band, instead.''

----
<poem>
Tuesday, January 15 - Night

Ririka lay in bed, obsessively replaying the battle in Hana's Kingdom in her head. This wasn't anything new; she often did this after any major performance, whether it was a show or a Persona battle. She was often her own harshest critic, in fact, looking for any flaw or imperfection, or any mistake she needed to correct.

Tonight, though, there was a different reason. In the midst of learning all the things Hana had struggled with to claim her authentic identity, the challenges she had faced, and even seeing the likes of Shinobu Shimizu come out as a lesbian, or Joker coming out as ''futei-sei'', or genderfluid, Ririka…

… hadn't been able to speak her own truth.

She groaned and covered her face with her hands as she stared up at the darkened ceiling. "Uggggh," she muttered to herself. "How ''lame''…"

Hadn't this been the exact thing she'd asked Hana for advice on? Hadn't she said she wanted to be more out, to just ''be'' herself without hiding or having to make excuses for things? Hadn't she told Hana that her being out, or that Junko Kurosu's advocacy were things that gave her hope?

And yet…

She'd gotten stage fright. How ironic.

Ririka let her hands drop away from her face onto the sheets. Her right hand immediately started tapping out a slow melody. She inhaled deeply of a crisp citrus scent that still hung in the air, a product of a scented candle she'd had burning earlier.

A candle that had been a gift from her girlfriend Ikumi. A ''Christmas Eve'' gift, no less. She'd put it out when she turned out the lights, but she looked to the spot where she had left it on the desk. Her right hand switched to one of the duets they had sung together that day in the Karaoke booth. A gift given to help her relax, after her fainting spell.

Ririka let out a soft sigh as she stared up at the ceiling. Okay, maybe she should try to relax some, then. Replaying things endlessly wasn't going to help her, and it wouldn't change what had, or hadn't, happened. So where did that leave her?

Did she want to be more out? Ririka turned that thought over in her head. If it meant… not having to hide her girlfriend or to sneak around and pretend she wasn't going on a date when she actually was? Definitely. If it meant telling the whole world and labeling her next song "I'm a Lesbian"?

In the dark, Ririka snorted and quickly covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her laughter so she wouldn't accidentally wake up the rest of the dorm. Still, the laughter did wonders to ease some of the tension in her body she hadn't realized she'd been carrying. The laughs subsided, and she let her hand slip off, draping her arm across her chest.

Okay. As much as she wanted to be that kind of inspiration to others, maaaaybe that didn't need to be her ''first'' step. She would probably need to tell her band first, and…

Mmm.

Now ''that'' was a thought… And it'd be nice to bring Ikumi by for practice sometime, or maybe even to her next show…

As she mulled that idea in her head, her eyelids drifted shut, and she found herself drifting off.
----
Thursday, January 17 - Late Afternoon

Ririka paced through her family's living room and kitchen, music blaring on her headphones and fingers tapping on her thigh as she anxiously scanned for every tiny detail.

She had cleaned, tidied up, set up the kitchen table with a platter of snacks, prepared hot drinks, and then proceeded to rechecked the cleaning and tidiness half a dozen more times.

"Okay, everything looks good," she muttered to herself. She turned to the kitchen table and started to reorganize everything. She looked at a plate and frowned. "… I shouldn't have gotten store-bought snacks." She pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Okay, if I get on my skateboard, I can ''just'' make it to the bakery, and if there isn't a line, then I can—"

A sudden touch on her shoulder startled her, and she almost fumbled the tray. "Aah!" She set it firmly down and turned around to see her mother smiling at her, letting out a short breath. "Oh, Mom. Hang on—"

She quickly turned her music off and pulled her headphones off. "Sorry, Mom. Did you need something? You can go rest, I'll take care of it."

Suika Kawase was nearly eight months pregnant, and Ririka had been trying her best to be attentive even as she kept up with her other obligations. Still, the sight of her mother inevitably brought up complicated feelings: she was used to being the baby of the family, and having a new sibling that would be almost 18 years younger than her…

Chuckling softly, Suika just smiled and patted Ririka's arm. "Riri-chan, you've done more than enough. They're your friends, it's going to be okay." She paused, and with a teasing tone added, "Besides, if you keep pacing you're going to wear a hole in the floor."

Ririka laughed softly, feeling an embarrassed flush heat up her face. "You're right, you're right. Sorry. I'm just… you know." She took a deep breath and tried to still her nerves.

"I know. You just need something to direct your energy into. But the house is clean and the snacks are fine." Suika smiled and inclined her head towards the upright piano in the living room. "Why don't you play something? It's been a while since you used it."

"Thanks." Ririka stepped forward to hug her mother, but couldn't resist a grin as she drew back. "In that case… any requests?"

Suika laughed softly, moving to the couch and carefully lowering herself down. "How about something relaxing? I think we could both use it right now."

"Sure thing!" Ririka sat down, and her hands seamlessly moved into a slow, legato piano piece, filling the house with a soothing melody. It helped take the edge off, and a couple of songs later she finally heard the doorbell ring. "That must be them." Ririka quickly stood up.

"Knock 'em dead, honey!" Suika called from the couch.

"Thanks, Mom!" Ririka called back as she headed for the front door.

Ririka stopped at the door to check her flannel shirt, then opened the door. "Hey, guys!"

A chorus of voices answered her, and Ririka couldn't help but grin. "Come in, come in," she said stepping back. First in was her long-time best friend, Emi Takeda, in a dress and jacket, hair up in a messy bun. "Ri-chan!" she shouted as she stepped in. "What's this super big important news you want to tell us?"

"Hey, Mi-chan," Ririka replied with a quiet laugh. "I'll get to that but, come on in first. I've got us set up in the kitchen."

"Hey, Ririka-chan," said Takumi Sasaki as he stepped in next with a quiet smile, dressed in slacks and an open shirt. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's good, Takumi-kun, just… come on in."

Next to step in was Tomori Nakajima, dark-skinned, wearing a hoodie, skirt, and leggings. "Rika-chan," she said a bit more neutrally, frowning slightly.

"Hey, Mori-chan," Ririka replied, just giving her a nod.

And last was Hiroshi Oda, dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved band tee, his hair up in his signature top knot. "Yo, Kawase," he greeted warmly. "Thanks for having us."

"Hey, Oda! Welcome!"

Moments later they were arrayed around the kitchen table. Hot drinks and snacks had been served, and Ririka was drumming her fingers lightly on the table. "So. First, I wanted to say thank you to everyone for meeting me here. And on such short notice."

"Must be important if you cancelled band practice for it," said Tomori, still frowning a little. "Please tell me you didn't faint again."

"Aww, c'mon, Ji-chan," chimed in Emi. "Don't be like that."

Ririka quickly shook her head. "It's okay, Mi-chan," she said quietly. "No, no, nothing like that. I'm, uh… actually doing my best to take care of my health. Promise. But it ''is'' something about myself that I want to talk about."

Everyone at the table sat up a little bit more. Several of them glanced at how Ririka's fingers were drumming on the table, but quickly looked back to her.

"We're listening," said Takumi encouragingly.

"Thanks." Ririka took a deep breath. She could still feel her heart pounding a little, but she tried to remind herself that these were her friends. "I figured this out a while ago, but it's taken me a…" she gave a quiet, helpless laugh. "… ''while'' to work up the nerve to tell anybody. You guys are some of my closest friends, and… I want to stop hiding this part of myself."

One by one she looked at her friends. "I'm into girls. I'm a bian."

There was silence around the table. Takumi, Tomori, and Hiroshi exchanged mildly uncertain glances, while Emi appeared to be deep in thought. "So, when you say 'into girls'," started Takumi. "You mean…"

"That I'm ''into'' girls," Ririka responded. "That I have a girlfriend that I'm dating that I'm really, well, into."

"That makes sense," Emi declared.

Everyone turned to look at Emi. Ririka blinked in surprise, and struggled to articulate her next few words. "M-me having a girlfriend makes sense…?"

Emi looked to Ririka. "Not that!" she said cheerfully, then reconsidered. "Well, kind of that, but I meant the 'you being into girls' thing. You were ''way'' more into Ki-chan than any of the boys you ever dated."

'Ki-chan' was Yukina Kiyousue, a friend of Ririka's that she had spent a lot of time hanging out with, until her family had to move. Ririka sighed wistfully. Thinking about Yukina brought back feelings of warmth, but also an old, distant pang she had never quite gotten over. "Yeah, I was… ''really'' into her," Ririka admitted, her cheeks warming up. Yukina had been a fixture at band practices in the early days, when they were still largely just a regular jam session. In many ways, she had been one of Polychord's very first fans.

Tomori sat forward, frowning at the recollection. "Wait, were you and Kiyouse-chan..?"

Ririka's voice came out a little too quickly before she relented. "No! Nooo no no no. I mean…" Her cheeks were redder now. "I think I had a ''massive'' crush on her but…" She looked down at her lap for a moment. "… I didn't really figure that out until… after she left. A-and we didn't really… keep in touch."

Yukina had said it'd be easier that way. Ririka hadn't really understood at the time, but… thought maybe she understood now.

"I think we could all tell how much she meant to you, but if you have a girlfriend now, that's— that's awesome," Hiroshi said, leaning in. "And, thanks for telling us. I know that took a lot of guts, and I just want you to know, this doesn't change how I see you."

Ririka let out a nervous exhale. "Thanks, Oda. I was… ''really'' nervous about what you'd all think."

Hiroshi reached across the table to extend a fist, which Ririka readily bumped. "You kidding. Self-expression is what rock-and-roll's all about, right?"

"Yeah! You're my best friend, Ri-chan," chimed Emi. "If you're happy, I'm happy."

"You've got my support," said Takumi. "Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help, okay?"

The skittish, flighty anxiety fluttering in Ririka's stomach started to settle down. "Thanks, guys. It's a huge weight off my mind to hear you all say that."

Tomori sat back in her chair, arms crossed. "Look, I'm behind you, all the way, but…" She glanced aside. "… you know the outside world doesn't know you like we do, right?"

After a moment of reflection, Ririka wasn't surprised that Tomori would bring up how the rest of the world would look at her. Unlike her sexuality, Tomori couldn't really hide being ''hafu'' in the same way. "Yeah…" she said with a heavy sigh. "I know. Annnd I've thought about that. A lot. This isn't… this isn't me coming out to the whole world yet. I just… don't want to hide this important part of who I am from you guys. Maybe someday I'd like to put more of these feelings into my music, but for now…"

She looked around the table and gave them all a small, lopsided smile. "… it'd just be nice to invite my girlfriend into this part of my life, you know?"

"… alright." Tomori leaned forward to pick up her mug. "Sorry, I don't want to be a downer, I just."

"No, it's fine," said Ririka as she shook her head. "You just wanted to make sure I didn't miss it, right?"

"Yeah."

"So, Kawase, who's the girl? She cute?" said Hiroshi with a broad grin, leaning in.

Emi gasped. "Is she someone from our school?"

Ririka laughed, shaking her head. "No, Mi-chan, she's not. She lives in Sumaru. Nee-chan introduced us, actually. And, uh…" A brilliant crimson heat filled her face. "She ''totally'' is."

"Rad." Hiroshi raised his mug. "Can't wait to meet her then."

"Eh heh… thanks." Ririka cleared her throat. "I'll, uh. Talk to her about coming by band practice sometime."

"So… your sister knows, then?" asked Takumi with a thoughtful expression. He glanced over towards the living room, where the sounds of a quiet TV show had replaced Ririka's earlier piano playing. "And I'm guessing your parents know, too?"

Ririka nodded quietly. "Yeah. My immediate family knows. There's a few people outside school who know, but you guys are pretty much the only people at school who know now. And, uh, I'd appreciate it if you didn't…"

A round of quiet, murmured assent went around the table.

"Thanks."

"So," started Takumi. "You mentioned putting more of your feelings into your music someday?"

Ririka shrugged a little. "Yeah. Someday—that reminds me, I'm working on a new song and the working title is ''Someday''—but yeah, I'd like to someday. But… I'd talk it out with you guys first. You're all part of the band, too."

"Mm." The bassist stared into his cup for a moment. "I dunno how my father's going to take that…"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," said Hiroshi confidently, though his enthusiasm had dimmed just a bit.

"Yeah, I know," acknowledged Ririka. "I'm just… taking this one step at a time, okay?"

Takumi slowly nodded. "Okay."

"Hey, Mi-chan," said Tomori, glancing over to Emi. "… how you holding up?"

"Hmm?" Emi looked up, blinking a bit as she refocused her thoughts. "Oh, I'm okay. Sorry, I was just thinking about if there were any yuri shows I wanted to watch with Ri-chan."

Laughter rippled through the table, and Ririka laughed hardest of all. "We'll find something, promise. I, uh, might have a few suggestions we could check out together."

"Okay!" exclaimed Emi, beaming up at her much taller friend. "That'd be great, Ri-chan."

Tomori sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile. "Okay, you're good." She turned her attention back to Ririka. "So, new song, huh? You holding out on us?"

"Eh heh… no, not really," protested Ririka. "It was just… kind of personal, so I wasn't really ready to share."

Tomori smirked, leaning in. "You got a demo yet?"

Ririka hesitated for only a moment. "… yeaaaah, I do. ''And'' lyrics, and arrangement notes." She pushed her chair away from the table and stood. "Since we're all here, if you don't mind…"

"I'm good as long as you have snacks," declared Emi.

"Lay it on us," said Hiroshi, lifting his mug.

"Sure," said Takumi.

Ririka returned with a notebook and a tape recorder moments later, and the discussion turned into a quiet, lively hum as the band workshopped and discussed the song.
</poem>
[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-28: Being Hard on Yourself

2026-09-29T02:32:06Z

Talnora: Making friends is hard

*'''Log: Being Hard On Yourself'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Kanae Fuyuki]]
*'''Where:''' Electric Town - Main
*'''OOC Date:''' September 28, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Wednesday, January 16, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kanae and Kazusa's go to Kazusa's studio to chat for a while after school. There is coffee and chocolate to be had.''

----

(|=========================== Electric Town - Main ===========================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
A sacred place for otaku, not just within Japan but worldwide. Here, it's so
mainstream to be a geek that it circles back to being cool again. That is,
unless you harass the staff of the businesses here whose job requires them to be
a part of this culture, or the cosplayers who work so hard at their costumes
that it's practically a second job for them.

Arcades and gaming shops alternate with manga stores full of merch that's so
pricy as to make any broke fan envious. Collectors line the streets for the
chance to trade for the rarest gachapon finds. Maid cafes and popups with menus
designed to profit off the latest hits in the weekly manga collabs and/or old
favorites from two decades ago cater equally to tourists and locals alike.

Anywhere on earth may be a heaven or hell depending on who you are, but that may
be truer than most places for Akihabara.

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Things at school have been... well, tense would be an understatement. Shujin is always has a certain baseline amount of tension to being in its halls... but the presence of a Homunculus in her classroom only ratched it up.

Then came the incident in the rhythmic gymnastics club room. Then the hallway, and then...

Shinich's bedroom.

And a few days ago she finally had a chance to get into Shinichi's Atelier. Hopefully they left it better than they found it, by freeing some Sanguins, but Kazusa would be lying if she said she wasn't deeply concerned.

... At least she still has her studio. If she had to go directly home after classes...

She's still in her school uniform as she unlocks the door of the studio apartment and steps inside. She's been anxious the whole way over, checking over her shoulder, and trying to discretely keep an eye out for anybody following her.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae, for one, is ''definitely'' concerned. She was pretty sure the Homunculus knew ''someone'' had been in the Atelier, even if so far it doesn't seem as if he identified them in particular...

So far.

There's no 'better' until that thing is gone.

Kanae's also in uniform though, and she doesn't go in first; she steps inside after, after a glance around them.

"It's fine," Kanae assures Kazusa. "Nobody followed us. Definitely not 'him.'"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa lets out a tense sigh and nods as she changes into house slippers. "Alright," she says to Kanae. "He can't possibly slip by the both of us, right?" There's a shiver as she moves to set her school bag down on the table by the kitchenette. "I'm just... glad we can watch each other's back."

At least, some of the time.

"... you want something to drink? I've got canned coffee. There's an electric kettle if you want tea."

She never offers to make the tea herself, though.

Kazusa looks inside the minifridge for a moment and then looks to Kanae. "... you doing okay?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae doesn't answer that one. He totally ''could''. But he hasn't, she's sure. "It's cool," she says. "We can. ...I've got your back, all right?"

"Canned coffee is good," Kanae answers, rolling her shoulders a little and finding somewhere to set down her bag.

"Me?" she asks. "I'm fine. You should see the cool new weapon I've got--but it's in that weird space with the rest of my outfit..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa really wishes Kanae would answer that question. But she's also not going to press the issue right now. She nods. "... and I've got yours, Kanae-chan."

The round wooden table by the kitchenette has space enough for both their bags. "Alright." Kazusa grabs two cans and hands one to Kanae. They're the fancy kind that are self-heating. "... gonna have to go buy more soon," she mutters to herself as she starts heating hers.

Kazusa looks at Kanae skeptically. "You sure? You're dating that monster, after all." Kazusa isn't exactly harping Kanae about it, but it's clearly everpresent on her mind.

"New weapon...?" She sits down at the table. "... yeah, what's up with that outfit anyway. I mean, mine, too."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Self-heating! That's nice. "Thanks," she says for the back-having and the coffee both. She sets hers to go, and takes a seat at the table too. "I'm fine," Kanae says. "With school starting back up I've been really 'busy', after all." A shake of her head. "Anyway, if anything happened badly, I'd tell you."

But a new weapon. "Yeah! It's like, a saw." Pause. "Dunno. Hunter's clothes are better for fighting in than a uniform. I'm sort of surprised more people don't have special outfits. The Phantom Thieves do, Hunters do..."

"And you do."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
School means Kanae is 'busy.' "... I guess that's tgrue. And I guess this means you can more easily keep an eye on that first-year in your tennis club." The one that's on Shinichi's Homunculus' list.

She nods, at the reassurance. "Alright."

"Hmm. You think the Phantom Thieves' outfits are like ours?" Well, she knows ''Belle's'' outfit is like that, but she's not about to betray Kasumi's confidence. "... you ever meet any of them?"

"Well, mine definitely isn't... better for fighting in, that's for sure."

She shakes her head. "But a saw, huh? We managed to make a deal with someone named Trish to get some Skill Cards. Oh, and I got this weird notebook I'm not sure what it's for yet."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah. Hayashi-kun." Kanae waits for it--but since Kazusa seems to her to (finally) let it go for now, she's willing to move on.

"I mean, do i assume they have costumers? No." She grins. "Probably, is what I mean. I've met some of them, but I don't know their 'real' identities. ...Probably better that way. Though I am curious."

Hers... isn't. "Guess you can't win them all."

"Mm-hm. --Oh, you dealt with Trish? And you still have both kidneys? I'm impressed."

"...A notebook?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Wonder what he did to get on the Homunculus' bad side..." Not that it takes much. But this time, Kazusa will leave that topic alone.

"Right, right. Probably seems like a safe bet." She considers. "I've run into some of them, but I haven't really had a chance to talk to any of them..."

What's the tactical value of the wolf ears and tails, Kanae? Kazusa would really like there to be an answer.

"I'd ''better'' have both kidneys. I don't have enough problems as it is. We found a room of food item that we traded. But it's food from an Atelier, so... make of that what you will."

"Yeah, it's called an Enma Notebook? I was thinking of asking Peacock Silk if they knew anythinga bout it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"No idea."

"I've got opinions. Just like anybody else at Shujin."

Cuteness is ''highly'' tactical, Kazusa.

"Ohhh, so you had bulk to trade with her. That makes sense. Whatever, maybe demons will like it." She waves a hand. Then--she frowns.

"Enma?" she wonders. "Like... King Enma, ruler of the underworld?"

Kanae knows her Buddhism better than a lot of people.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"What do you think of them? The Phantom Thieves, I mean. I didn't think they were really real before, but..." Kazusa gestures with her free hand. "Fighting alongside one makes it hard to ignore."

... Not to mention Kasumi's comments.

It's embarrassing is what it is! Her inner self can't really be that chuuni, can it? Can it??

"Yeah, it happened like that. The skill cards look legit, at least."

Kazusa frowns. "Iiii... think so...? Hold on." She climbs up the short ladder to the loft, and comes back holding it to show to Kanae to look at.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"I'm grateful for them taking out Kamoshida," Kanae says. "...I could've been the one he went after, easy, if I hadn't gotten a boyfriend when I did." She shakes her head. "...But otherwise? I don't really know. They only seem to go after terrible people, so i guess they've got that going for them."

It totally can.

"Hmm. They probably are..."

But Kausa brings it over, and Kanae reaches out to accept it and will look it over. "Hmmm..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"... yeah." Kazusa still doesn't know how to feel about how that went down. Mostly because she wasn't exactly the best person back then. "I guess that's true... as far as we know, at least."

Kazusa will deny it to the day she dies.

"Yeah. I haven't had a chance to go to the Velvet Room yet, so I guess I'll find out."

Kazusa lets Kanae examine the notebook and sits back down.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Oh? Do you know something I don't?"

Still, "Yeah, this is the kind of thing the Velvet Room would like," Kanae says. She flips through and then offers it back towards Kazusa. "Peacock Silk might, too. As long as their peacock doesn't eat it." The Enma Notebook...

"Which he probably won't, but you never know."

"I got some materials for a new Persona out of that place, myself. I think it'll be useful in the battles ahead."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa shakes her head. "I just mean, anything public you can find out about them, that's all." That and she's naturally kind of a suspicious person in some ways. It's fine.

She takes the notebook back and sets it aside. "Yeah, I don't know ''what'' is up with that peacock. I know Fontaine-san doesn't trust him but... I mean, she's... ''kind'' of impossible about some things. But I did see him eating gatchapon toys once."

There's a frown at her own mention of Isabeau.

"I wouldn't put it past him."

Kazusa studies Kanae for a moment. "... so, about that. You can just, summon multiple Personas?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Hmm. OK." Kanae has come to recognize this about Kazusa; she's naturally suspicious, though she wouldn't go so far as to say paranoid except as regards the Homunculus... Maybe.

"Isabeau doesn't trust any supernatural beings. It's shortsighted, if you ask me--not everything out there is out to hurt us. Some things just want to live their lives... and some want to help."

Toys. "...Heheh."

She then hears the question, and Kanae inclines her head. "Mm-hm. Igor calls it the 'Wild Card'. I'm supposed to have some kind of destiny..."

"But 'destiny' is going to have to wait. One thing at a time."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
No she's /definitely paranoid about the Homunculus right now. And she was definitely paranoid in the Homunculus' room, too. Finding out she's on a serial killer's hit list hasn't exactly /helped/.

At least in the case of Shinichi's Homunculus, it's aimned at survival.

"''Thank'' you." Kanae gets it! "God trying to talk sense with her sometimes is just impossible sometimes." She takes a sip of her coffee, then looks down at her can. "... she was still right about some things, though. About the Atelier, I mean."

Kazusa rolls her eyes. "They were filling the capsules with ''glitter''. I had to dispose of two of those things."

"Destiny, huh...?" Kazusa frowns for a moment. "... sounds like a way of having someone tell you what your life is going to be like." To be fair, she's a bit biased, given her father.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"That's just it," Kanae says. "She's right about a lot of things, because she and the Wild Hunt have experience. She made me think, too... Like how the Atelier isn't ''all'' the Homunculus. The creepy hospital? That's probably a real part of his feelings. ...I don't think the Melancs torturing the Sanguins is normal, though."

Pause. "Glitter. ...That's kinda fun."

Kanae shakes her head. "I don't see it like that," she says. "I see it as more... preparing me for something I'm going to have to deal with, one way or another."

"I can feel it, right? ...There's something coming."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, but why does she have to be so-=- so-- bull-headed! It's clearly her fault we ended up arguing the other day," she declares, though she clearly doesn't look happy about... whatever situation still.

She's rationalizing ''so hard''.

But as for the Atelier... Kazusa nods. "The... the Homunculus has more control than he should. Roger-san said the Flegmats in the middle school shouldn't be behaving the way they are... do you remember hearing about the Mikage-cho incident? I don't have all the details but... it's possible he's mixing what happened with that with what happened with his sister."

"... and it may have been something supernatural, too."

But the Melancs. Kazusa looks a bit distressed and shakes her head. "I-- it's-- well, the Melancs are supposed to regulate the Sanguins, and the Homunculus takes them over, but..." Shje shivers. "... yeah. It's bad. We managed to free a number of them. I hope that helps... provide some resistance, for at least a little bit."

"It's a ''nuisance'' is what it is."

"Hmm... still sounds like a lot to put on someone's shoulders..." Kazusa frowns. "... but you won't have to face it alone."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Probably because she's up against the wall, everybody hates her, and--" Kanae pauses. "...No, that's enough." She doesn't want to say that much about Isabeau that Kazusa doesn't already know; it feels... disloyal, somehow. Regardless, "Remember, though. There's a reason she doesn't have a lot of friends."

Still, "Yeah, that's my understanding. And I remember... but it was a 'gas leak' or something. Obviously there's more to it than that, considering."

"Or else he just had a really weird set of dreams. But I doubt it."

"...It's OK," Kanae says. "To be upset. To be disturbed. It was really messed-up stuff."

She pauses. "I hope so. I was able to free some, too... But they can't really ''heal'' until it's over."

A nuisance!!

"Mm." Kanae decides not to share more about that for now--but Kazusa says what matters here. "Thanks," she says. "...It's good to have a friend like that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"It's not exactly like she does herself any favors," Kazusa says with a huff. But she relents a moment later. "... I don't exactly hate her, though. She's just... so ''frustrating'' to deal with. I don't know why I let her get me so worked up."

"... yeah, well. It's not exactly like I have a lot of friends either, you know. I just thought..."

She's not sure how to finish that thought.

"Apparently it might've been supernatural? Someone suggested summoning demons might have been involved? I guess that's a thing that can happen?" It's not a particularly reassuring thought.

Kazusa huffs. "I just... wnt this to be over. I just... want to live my life, you know? But maybe..."

Maybe this is her pennance, for the things she's done. It's hard not to feel that way sometimes.

"... yeah. But if we can buy him even just a little bit more time..."

Kazusa nods. "... I'm... trying."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, I know," Kanae says of Isabeau being frustrated. "I've been dealing with her a lot longer. ...what was it you thought?"

Might've been supernatural. "Sure, why not?" Kanae says. "Demons are out there, you can probably call them up."

But she wants it to be over...

"I don't think that's going to happen," Kanae says. "Not anytime soon. If by 'this' you mean 'all of this'. ...The Shinichi thing... I saw that cocoon. One way or another, it ''will'' be over soon."

"OK. ...Well, i think my coffee's ready," she says.

Kanae lifts it up. "Thanks."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Is there anything that helps in dealing with her?" She caught how Kanae cut herself off earlier, but, she doesn't want to press on that directly. As for what she thought she sighs. "It's..." She glances off to the side. Is she blushing a little? Definitely not. "... I don't know. It's kind of stupid."

"That's weird, right? Like, if someone can do that? I mean I know we can summon Personas or whatever, but..."

"Oh, no. I know that 'all of this' isn't..." Kazusa shakes her head. "Isn't going anywhere. And I know I can't go back to how I used to be, and I don't want to, I just... this Homunculus. Being in the same classroom. I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Kanae saw the Cocoon. "You did better than we did."

Kazusa lifts her can up. "Welcome."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"Not really," Kanae says. "Just when you get sympathetic, she makes you mad again. Then you're mad, and she reminds you that she's in a tough spot. There's pretty much no winning. She drives me crazy."

"...Hm?" she asks. She notices that blush, all right. "What's stupid?"

But, "Not that weird. Dangerous, though, totally."

"Ah, yeah... Well, soon."

"It was me and Isabeau. We've worked together before. ...We make a good team, even if she won't admit it."

Then she smiles. "Thanks." Glug glug. Coffee time.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Sympathetic, mad, and the sympathetic again. "... yeah, that sounds about right... I guess if you haven't cracked the code yet there's no shame in me not being able to."

"... I don't know." Kazusa gets up to look at her cupboards and definitely not so she doesn't have to face another person right now. "... maybe we could be friends, or something. I don't know. It's stupid. Do you want something to eat?"

Least sublte topic change ever.

"I made plans to go with Roger-san and someone I know called Belle. But we ended up getting two other people tagging along, too."

She's still looking at snacks. As a distraction.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"See? All better."

But Kazusa doesn't know, and... "That's a nice thought," Kanae says. "But i think that's a ways off..."

She thinks about it. She shakes hre head. "Sure," Kanae says of something eat. Then, "Hmmmm, I see. A good group's important. You have to be able to rely on them. I'm glad some other people going didn't throw you off--more is better."

"Well, to a point, anyway."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
A ways off... Kazusa sighs, and this time she sounds disappointed. And a little frustrated at herself. "... yeah. Probably." Especially after how their last talk went.

She comes back with some matcha chocolate bites, setting a tray on the table.

"I would've been happier if I'd ''known'' they were coming along... but I guess we did okay, in the end. Even if we didn't make it to the Cocoon."

"Well, I'm glad you ended up going with Fontaine-san. And that you were able to work together well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae spots the disappointment. "It takes a while to make a friend in the best of times--and she's actively trying to push people away. Don't be too hard on yourself... or her."

Snacks! "Thanks for the food," Kanae says, and has one, reaching over to get it as she listens. "Sure, anybody would."

"Cool. ...And, yeah. Well..."

"Like I said. We've done it before. Probably will again."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
It takes time. "I guess... but maybe I'm just not very good at it. I'm lucky you even put up with me at all." She reaches for one of the bites for herself. She looks down at her coffee. "... too late for that," she mutters.

"Welcome. It's... kind of nice having some company in this place again."

"Well. As long sa you two can keep working together, that's good."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-27: An Experienced Perspective

2026-09-28T05:04:14Z

Talnora: Everyone needs a little guidance sometimes...

*'''Log: An Experienced Perspective'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Ririka Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Station
*'''OOC Date:''' September 27, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Wednesday, January 16, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Ririka has been thinking a lot of thoughts about her own queerness since [[2026-09-25: Ignition|the fight in Hana's Kingdom]]. She happens to run into Shinobu (who outed herself during that fight), who offers an ear and some perspective.''

----

(|================================== +date ===================================|)
| OOC: Sun, Sep 27 2026 |
| IC: Wed, Jan 16 2013 Part 1 |
| 12h per 24h |
| IC Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent |
(|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
The intersection of high speed rail along the coast of Tokyo and Tatsumi Port
Island's monorail line from the mainland across the sea to its artificial
island, Iwatodai Station is the cornerstone of daily life to the inhabitants of
this place. Even the most jaded salaryman could get lost in the experience of
looking out upon the glittering sea as they ride across it to their daily life.

A multi-story strip mall across the street from the station offers students such
selections as Wakatsu for sushi high in omega-3s to increase that brain power,
Hagakure Ramen with all the collagen you could desire for skin care, or even
Wilduck's infamous Mystery Burger for those who desire an impromptu test of
courage. Net cafes selling some of the latest releases and hole-in-the-wall
bookstores give people endless options of what to do with their evening.

With this blend of local flavor and modern convenience, Iwatodai Station truly
is the ideal option to stop by whether you're coming or going home.

BGM - Tranquility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvwVzA1z44

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>While Shinobu primarily works in Sumaru City, she does occasionally get job offers from further out. She'll take whatever gig she can get, and wherever... and today, that brings her to Iwatodai City.

It's been a long day with a lot of running around, as the local sweet shop needed someone to take care of some emergency errands before the big afterschool rush. They were in enough of a bind that it ''should'' pay pretty well, at least.

She finishes up just in time - school has just let out, and the first wave of students should be arriving back on the train...

...which means it's going to be a little while before the next one. For now Shinobu sits back on a bench with a good view of the strip mall, a tray of Octopia's 'takoyaki' in hand.

It's decidedly weird, and it might or might not be octopus... but hey, it's something.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka had a long day, too, though, her day consisted mostly of sitting through classes. Though, she did stay up a decent portion of the night thinking and going around in circles.

For a lot of reasons, she had the fight with Shadow Hana on her mind last night. She might've been a little bit tired today.

... it's fine. It's actually a little bit better than the nights she has to do SEES missions in Tartarus.

Ririka is one of those students getting off of the train, as it happens. Her dorm isn't far from here, (and she's pretty familiar with the strip mall in question regardless.)

She's in her winter Gekkokan uniform, with dark purple tights, and a purple bow, besides. She's got a pair of headphones blaring, bobbing her head along to the beat as she goes...

But then she happens to glance over and catch sight of Shinobu, and stops. She's seen Shinobu around many times for the various Persona battles, but aside from that one time at the beginning of the year, near the Tatsumi Raffles, they've never really talked.

She tries to look away again, to not look so ''obvious'', but she's also been thinking about what Shinobu said yesterday, too.

She wrestles with herself, fingers tapping on her thigh as the music keeps blaring, but she eventually steps off the sidewalk to go approach Shinobu, pausing her music and taking her headphones off. "Uh, hey," she says, with an awkward wave. "Do you have a moment to talk?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu catches Ririka out of the corner of her eye and recognizes her but she doesn't call out to her. It's only when Ririka pauses for long enough that it's obvious she's looking does Shinobu nod a greeting her way - and then, after a moment longer, Ririka approaches her.

"Hey, Kawase." Shinobu greets back, as Ririka waves. She asks if she has a moment to talk and Shinobu considers that for a moment. The next train is coming in...

...No, that doesn't matter. Taking that awkward wave and the wave she turned her music off into account... If she misses it she can always grab the next one.

"Sure, I've got time." Shinobu assures. "C'mon, have a seat."

Once she does, Shinobu holds the tray out.

"Takoyaki?" She offers. The offering of takoyaki has a dual purpose - it's polite, but it also gives Ririka an excuse if she needs time to figure out what she wants to say.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Hey, Shimizu-san," she says back, offering a smile that's at least a little warm, but she's also feeling a little awkward.

She looks a little pensive (her fingers are still tapping away on her thigh, even with the music turned off), but she looks relieved when Shinobu invites her to take a seat. "Thanks."

There's an offer of takoyaki, and Ririka blinks, then nods. "Oh, sure, thanks." She takes it, for... pretty much the same reason Shinobu is offering it. It gives her a little buffer to get her thoughts in order.

After the first bite she says, "Oh, did you get these from Octopia?"

But after a little bit longer, she finally figures out her angle. "... so... that fight in the Kingdom last night. Kind of intense, huh?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Ririka smiles, and Shinobu smiles back. She doesn't know her well enough to get a ''great'' read on her, but she looks pleased enough. And the relief on her face is visible when she invites her to sit. She nods, as Ririka thanks her.

"Sure did. Just a moment ago, in fact. They're fresh." Shinobu confirms, taking another for herself. As they eat, Ririka brings up the Kingdom.

"Sure was." Shinobu agrees with a small laugh. "Things got pretty wild... Those places really know how to get at you. How're you doin' after all that, you holding up alright?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
But they are, in fact, from Octopia. "Cool. I hang out around here a lot, so..." She gestures to the strip mall. "... there's a music store there that I go to all the time."

That's music store as in, a store that sells instruments.

"Yeaaaah... I'm..." Ririka sighs. "... getting really tired of being in places like that that are fucked up towards women, you know?" She shrugs a little. "I'm... fine, I guess. We saved Fukami-san, so... it's all good, right?"

But is it though?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Oh yeah? Cool." Shinobu remarks as Ririka explains that she hangs out here a lot. That makes sense. The music store... Shinobu looks over the strip mall. "...Oh yeah? I've been there once or twice..."

She'd like to claim she plays the guitar. ...She still needs work, though.

Ririka sighs, and Shinobu cracks a wry grin.

"...Yeah, I hear that." She agrees sympathetically. "I mean... I'm never gonna get ''tired'' of beating down sexist assholes, but it doesn't make it ''feel'' any better that it keeps having to happen, y'know?"

Ririka insists that she's fine, though, and Shinobu considers her for a moment.

"...Yeah. We did. I'm sure she's gonna have a lot to work through, though. I dunno how much she remembers, but..." Shinobu agrees, and shrugs. "Well, that's how it goes in this business, I guess."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, cool! One of my band members works there part time, I usually take my stuff there to get it fixed." Ririka can ''definitely'' claim to be a guitarist. "... what do you play?"

"Yeaaah..." Considering that Eiji's Palace was one of the first supernatural spaces she explored, well... it's a significant source of worry.

... she doesn't feel terribly sorry babout what happened to Eiji, though.

"... there's a lot of sexist assholes out there, aren't there?" Ririka reflects, after a moment. "We take down a Palace or a Kingdom, but..."

"... Yeah. I wanna call her and see how she's doing, but if she doesn't remember then me being all concerned might be weird?" After a moment she adds, "I, uh, have her business card." After another beat she adds, "... she gave it to me. It's..." She waves a hand for a moment. "... kind of a whole thing."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Ririka mentions that one of her band members works at that store.

"Hey, that's cool." Shinobu remarks, with interest. As for what she plays. "Guitar." She pauses for a moment to clarify, "Acoustic."

She laughs a little.

"...It's still, uh, a work in progress." She admits. "I do most of my practicing after midnight. Sound quality can be a little strange sometimes, but it means I don't have to worry about anyone complaining about the noise."

'After midnight', in this instance, is slang for 'the Dark Hour'. ...That's also why she went with acoustic guitar, specifically, even if electric is more her vibe.

Ririka agrees with her and she nods... and her expression softens as Ririka continues.

"...Yeah. There are." Shinobu agrees with a quiet nod. "You can knock a few of 'em down, but... there's always more where that came from. Some things can't be solved with the supernatural alone."

Ririka says she wants to call Hana, and worries that it might be weird...

"A 'whole thing', huh?" Shinobu asks, as Ririka waves it off. She considers her for a moment - but decides that if she won't elaborate, she won't press her to. "Well... Yeah, usually it might be a little awkward, but... She ''is'' a public face, so she's probably used to people calling her up. Long as you aren't too overbearing, I don't think she'd mind a little worry from a concerned fan."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Hey, cool!" Ririka says enthusiastically. "It's a really good instrument. And really versatile." Yes, she has opinions on this why do you ask?

She pauses a little at 'after midnight'. "After-- oh! Yeaaah that'd... that'd do it." She means of it sounding weird. "But still, that's cool."

"Yeah..." Ririka frowns a little, tapping her fingers still. "...sometimes I wonder if there's anything that can be done about them. Out in the real world, I mean."

"It's..." Ririka frowns, as she considers. Her kind of natural insintct was to sort of elide the story. But she looks over at Shinobu thoughtfully. "I guess you could call me a fan. I'm, maybe more a fan of her and not her TV show specifically?"

"Maybe I'll give it a day or two, and reach out," Ririak decides. Hana probably has enough on her plate getting back into the swing of things after being taken out of her life.

"... but the reason I have her card is, uh..." Deep breath. "She saved me and my girlfriend from someone trying to cause a scene, and then... I asked her for her advice."

She goes silent for a moment after that, feeling her heart pounding a little. Shinobu isn't exactly a stranger, but she's not exactly a close friend, either. But after what she heard last night...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Ririka's enthusiasm gets a genuine smile out of Shinobu.

"Yeah, I like it. It's got a good sound - you can really get a lot of emotion out of it." She agrees. She smirks as Ririka realises what she meant - and then nods.

Ririka agrees with her, too, about the state of the world... and offers her a small smile.

"There is. But... it's not gonna be quick or easy." She replies. "It's just... somethin' we've all gotta work on. Bit by bit. 'Til then, well... we keep each other safe how we can."

She watches then as Ririka struggles with herself. She explains that she's a fan - but of her, and not her show. Shinobu laughs.

"Heh. Yeah. I get that. It's not really my thing, either." Shinobu replies. "Frankly, I'm more looking forward to whatever she plans to do after all this."

She nods as Ririka says she'll wait a day or two before reaching out.

"Good plan." She replies - and then goes quiet as Ririka starts to explain why she has her card. She hears that deep breath and waits, giving her the time she needs to work up to it.

Her 'girlfriend', she says... and, given the effort she needed to be able to say that, and the things ''she'' said last night, she's pretty sure she doesn't mean it in the casual 'friends that happen to be girls' way.

"Shit. That sucks. Sorry that happened to you, Kawase..." Shinobu apologises, massaging the back of her neck. "Glad Fukami-san was there for the both of you, though. Were you both okay afterwards?"

She pauses for a moment, then, before adding...

"How long've you two been dating?" She asks, just to make it clear she understands.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, for sure," Ririka agrees about the emotion. "And there's so many ways to change the sound to match your mood... it's, eh heh, one of the easier ways for me to express what I'm feeling, sometimes..."

'We keep each other safe.' Ririka looks to Shinobu and nods, smiling faintly at that. "... yeah. We're all in this together, right?"

"Yeah. My mom watches her show, nad it's not bad, but... I definitely wanna keep track of what Fukam-san gets up to."

Rrka ''defntely'' doesn't mean t in that way. Hence, shy she's thnking so much about what happened the ngiht before.

"Thanks. It started with this woman yelling at me for being a delinquent just for carrying my skateboard around, even though we were ''going'' to a skate park and just..." Rirka shakes her head. "But Fukami-san stepped n, talked her down, and gave us some advice for next tmie."

She shrugs a little. "We were mostly okay. It just kind of... soured the mood, I guess."

But at the last questioni, there's a shy but warm smile, as a flush spreads across her cheeks. Bingo. "Our first date was in November. We ended up going to a MUSES concert together." Ririka looks over to Shinobu. "She's the first girl I've ever dated. And, well, I'm the first girl she's ever dated, too."

"But even after what you and Joker said last night, I..." Ririka sighs. "... I kinda chickened out about speaking up. How lame is that?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Right? It's kind of impressive how complex they are." Shinobu replies with a nod, and grins. "Hey, nothing's wrong with that. Music's good for things like that. Me, I'm still working at it... so right now, my main outlet's woodcarving."

She nods, then, smiling back at her.

"Damn right we are." She agrees. Ririka says that she wants to keep track of what Hana gets up to, and Shinobu nods. "Same here."

She hopes she ''does'' get into acting, like she knows she wants to.

Shinobu listens as Ririka explains what happens and she grimaces sympathetically when she explains how someone was yelling at her.

"Asshole. She was ''looking'' for something to complain about." She replies, shaking her head. She's familiar with the type, because she ''was'' a delinquent in her youth. "I see... That's good."

Ririka explains that it just kind of soured the mood, and Shinobu nods.

"Yeah... Yeah, that'd do it." She comments.

Thankfully, the talk of dating is a brighter topic. Shinobu can't help but grin as she sees Ririka expression shift, and her face begin to flush. Ah, young love. It's nice to see someone so smitten.

"Oh, a concert. Good pick." Shinobu comments with an approving nod. "So, a few months, now? Not bad."

Her girlfriend is the first girl's she's dated - and it's the same way for the girl she's dating, too. Shinobu nods in understanding.

"It's a pretty wild time, isn't it? Exciting and scary at the same time." Shinobu comments.

Ririka continues, though, and Shinobu watches her sympathetically. She says she chickened out... Shinobu frowns. Has this been weighing on her ever since the fight?

"Hey, listen, Kawase..." She starts. "You don't owe it to anyone. Not me, not Joker, or even Fukami-san. Just 'cause other people are doing it don't mean ''you'' have to. Not before you're ready. This's still new to you, so I don't blame you for not speaking up."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yep. I'mmm also a musician. And I have a band, but I kind of said that last night, eh heh." Ririka rubs at the back of her neck. "But hey, woodcarving, that's really cool."

It's nice to have solidarity with someone--especially given what ''they'' have in common, too.

Ririka doesn't know about the acting hopes yet, but maybe she'll find out eventually.

"Yeah, that's what Fukami-san said, too." There's some other details she won't bother bringing up--like being mistaken for a guy. (Her height isn't exactly a secret, here. She's a tad over 5'7".)

"Thanks. And yeah, it was a really good time. And we've been on a few more dates since... It's, uh, going well, I think." Ririka laughs a little. "Scary and exciting is... yeah. Like, I had guys ask me out on dates before, but... she blows all of them out of the water. Easy."

It's definitely been weighing on her. Her fingers haven't stopped tapping on her thigh this whole conversation. But she doesn't owe anybody anything. Ririka nods. "... yeah, I know. But thanks. It helps a lot to hear that."

She looks to Shinobu. "I just... I figured it out two and a half years ago, but it took me two whole years to tell anybody. It's... awkward trying to avoid it, sometimes, and I just... hate having to pretend, you know?"

"I guess... there's a difference between what I want and what I'm actually ready for, huh?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"You did. Still pretty cool." Shinobu replies with a smirk. "And, thanks. Sometimes it's nice to just take my emotions out on the wood and see what comes out."

She nods, as Ririka says Hana said the same thing... and when she recounts how she's been on a few more dates with her girlfriend, Shinobu grins.

"Glad to hear it." She replies - and then laughs. "Yeah, I can imagine that'd feel pretty different."

Ririka knows she doesn't owe anyone anything... but she still thanks her, and Shinobu nods.

"No problem." She says, and goes quiet so she can continue. Two and a half years ago, huh? The awkwardness, and hating having to pretend...

...She can definitely understand that. It's a familiar feeling.

"...Yeah. That's what it comes down to. It's, uh. A big change, and you don't know how people are going to react to it." Shinobu replies. "It feels like it eats you up inside, but then you're not sure if it's going to feel any better when it actually gets ''out''..."

She shrugs.

"And then thinking about doing it in a high-intensity situation like that, even around people who know what it's like? ...Yeah, if I thought about doing that at your age, I don't think I could've gone through with it, either." She comments. That's what it comes down to, in the end - a difference in experience. She massages the back of her neck. "...But I do hope you've got someone you feel like you can tell. It ''does'' get easier, Kawase. Even if it don't feel like it."

She cracks a smirk, then.

"...Besides me, I mean. And thanks, for trusting me with that." She adds.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks!" Ririka grins a little.

"Deeefinitely different," Ririka says with a small laugh. "Some of the guys were nice, but..." She shrugs.

Eating you up inside, but then coming out still feels uncertain."Oh my god ''exactly''! Right? Like, even when you ''know'' there's know way to know about everybody else..."

But in that situation, even Shinobu might not have been able to do it. Ririka looks at her and nods. "Wow, really...? Okay, that really helps, then..." Just knowing she's not alone, that is. "Thanks."

She smiles. "I've told a few people. My family knows, there's a few friends who know... Fukami-san knows, too. And now, you."

She smiles. "You're welcome. And... thanks for listening. I wasn't really ready to just tell ''everyone'' in that fight, but... I didn't want to miss the chance to connect with someone else like me, you know?"

"And... I've been thinking about telling a few more people... like my band, for starters."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Ririka agrees, and Shinobu grins. She definitely gets it.

...And it sounds like she's voiced Ririka's own fears.

"Right??" Shinobu agrees. She smiles, then, as Ririka considers how she might not have been able to do it. "Yeah, definitely. It's difficult." She nods. "No problem."

She listens, then, as Ririka recounts the people she knows - her family, a few friends, Hana... and now her. Shinobu nods thoughtfully. It's good to know she can tell her family. Having supportive family helps a lot.

"Hey, that's pretty good." Shinobu comments, her expression thoughtful. And then she smiles, as Ririka does.

"No problem." She assures. "And... yeah, I get it. Sometimes you just need to talk with someone who knows what you're going through."

Ririka explains that she's been thinking about telling a few more people, like her band. Shinobu considers that.

"I think... if you trust 'em, that's a good idea." She decides with a nod. "They've been hearin' you bare your heart through music, so they've probably got a good picture of you."

She grins.

"Whoever you tell, here's hoping it goes well, alright?" She offers. "...Oh, and - if you need to talk to someone about it, feel free to reach out to me again, yeah?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu ''defnitely'' did. This is the power of finding those who have traveled the same paths you have.

"Thanks. And I know I'm... kind of lucky to have supportive family, so... I'm grateful for that."

Ririka takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly. She's looking more relaxed. "Yeah, definitely. I caht online a little, but... it's different knowing people in person, you know?"

"I do. I mean, it doesn't make it any less terrifying, but... I've known them for years. And if I ever wanna put more of that part of myself in my music, well..."

But there's an offer, and Ririka grins. "Thanks. I really appreciate that, Shimizu-san. I'll catch you around." She starts to get up.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Yeah. Be sure to cherish 'em." Shinobu replies with a nod. "If I didn't have my sisters... I don't know what I'd do."

Ririka breathes in and out, and it looks like she's starting to relax. That's good.

"Definitely. I mean, that's a good outlet too, but you're right. It's different, talking face to face." She agrees. Being able to actual ''see'' someone makes it all the more real.

"Oh yeah, totally." Shinobu agrees, as Ririka says it doesn't make it any less terrifying. "And, yeah... That's important. If you ''do'', I'd like to hear it, yeah?"

Ririka grins, and Shinobu grins back.

"No problem, Kawase." She replies. "Yeah, you too. Take care out there."

With that, Shinobu starts to stand, as well. She should probably get herself a ticket back home before too long.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-24: Shrouds of the Heart

2026-09-25T21:07:46Z

Talnora: More questions than answers...

*'''Log: Shourds of the Heart'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Roger]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]], [[Morgana]] (NPC'd by [[Ren Amamiya]])
*'''Where:''' Shinichi Nagisa's Atelier, Fabric of Reality
*'''OOC Date:''' September 24, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, January 14, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa, Roger, and Belle have made plans to explore Shinichi's Atelier, and Umie and Mona also happen to come along. What they find, however, speaks of a horrific incident from long ago that raises many concerning questions...''
*'''Content Warning:''' Horror, gore, misogyny, verbal/physical abuse

----

(|========================== Aoyama-Itchome Station ==========================|)
-==================================================== Tokyo/Aoyama-Itchome ====-
A crowded train station leads to sunny streets and colorful businesses, but this
is an illusion of freedom. Your perspective narrows as you continue to walk, no
matter whether you turn down the main walk or cut through the alleyways. Darker
shadows line the way, past the temptation of vending machines, as the gates and
higher walls of the building come into view.

March along with your fellow students to your destination, some few of whom
understand that society forces them to consign themselves each day to
imprisonment. The kanji for 'Shujin' in local prep school Shujin Academy means
'Utmost Excellence,' but it also sounds like the word for 'Prisoner.' That
wordplay is all too apt, concealing in plain sight the fact that you are a
prisoner here for six days a week and the majority of your waking hours...

And then you go home.

AS: Kazusa Motojima has readied for combat as Mina Harker! She is now fully healed!

MONAD: A party led by Kazusa Motojima has begun the event Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho.

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 1 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: In These Halls, Terror |
| Approach Options: Academics or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Ineptitude - Proficiency Down L2, Shuffle - Draw 1 Minor |
| Arcana., and Stupor - Academics Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjYxvF-J7Fo

Drip.
Drip.
Drip.

You appear in what looks like a darkened school hallway. Shine some light on
a bulletin board though and you can see that this is actually Our Lady of
the Holy Stoat Middle School, in the town of Mikage-Cho.

But it looks like it's been abandoned for months. The only light on down the
hallway flickers pathetically every so often, the classroom doors won't
open, and even if forced open, one runs into a great barricade of debris
behind each of them.

With whispers and whimpers behind them, shushes and calls for quiet. One may
see why in short order. Flegmat Humors wander these halls, mumbling, their
forms taking the shape of huge sickly Oni with unkempt purple manes,
dragging clubs behind them. Dog-headed ones half their size flanking them.
They look like demons- demons from that time, but warped, as if to fit some
half-remembered watercolor of them.

If you listen to their mumbles long enough, you may pick out the words for
'Filial Piety' and 'Divine Punishment' at least, as they wander the
labyrinthine halls, eyes glassy. If one enters their field of vision, then
they freeze, then begin to charge, screaming expletives and swinging their
clubs wildly.

In order to get past them, you must expertly navigate these halls through
the occasionally posted, confusing floor plans, keeping out of sight.

Of course, you could just fight them, but that'd be an exhausting slog, and
energy you can't afford to expend here at the beginning.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa has not been having a great time of things. Finding out, on the last day of Winter Break, that Shinichi's Homunculus was basically just a Serial Killer in the making was... hard.

And then having to walk into that classroom and pretend not to know that there was anything wrong with the Class Representative was even harder.

She'd been struggling to keep herself under control, and outside of class may have been relapsing into some of her worse behaviors. (At least now, she recognizes that she is and gets to hate herself for it, which isn't doing much for her mood.)

Case in point: She'd gotten some intel from Isabeau that she had separately shared with Roger and Kasumi (just don't ask how that meeting ended): a rough map of some of the landmarks, and descriptions of some of the Humor types.

There was some planning involved in this run. Kazusa had arranged a date and time to go to the Atelier with Roger, then shared that with Belle so that she could join them at the same time from a different location, to protect her identity. Of course, now that the Atelier link was active on AtelierNet.jp, it really wouldn't take that much for anyone else to access the Atelier at the same time, whether by intent or happenstance.

However they get there, they emerge into a dark, decrepit school. Dripping water echoes through the halls. A bulletin board identifies the school and the place.

What happened to this place? There are demons wandering the halls, and the classrooms are boarded, with whimpers coming from within.

Kazusa shivers as she steps into the Atelier, seamlessly shifted into her Transmtuation form, the ookamimimi 'Princess' in purple. She shivers, despite the black cloak wrapped around her, as she looks around. "What in the world...?" She quickly looks for Roger and Belle, though she's clearly on edge already.

She checks a map. "Okay... we definitely have to get out of here," she mutters. Peeking from around a corner, her eyes narrow as she scans the details of the Flegmats walking around, then traces something on the map. "Okay, there's a set that turns at ''this'' corner, and ''these'' are going ''that'' way..."

She's using her eye for fine details to try and track the movement of the patrols, to give them a better chance of avoiding a fight.
</poem>
GAME: Kazusa Motojima sets her Night Princess desc!

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has acted with Fashion Talk toward In These Halls, Terror! Smarts and Patra!

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger, given his humble and unlikely origins as an uplifted Shadow that has somehow developed a human psyche, is able to hold himself together with the express purpose of stopping the Homunculus and finding a way to allow Shinichi to be who he wants to be! ...But the stakes were ever higher with the threat the Homunculus represented to far more than just the original, rightful owner of the Atelier.

Roger is in his Transmutation form, which is a very strange but earnest and colorful representation of somewhere between a uniformed sports player and a coach. Let it be known. He is here to play.

The game is to Remove The Homunculus!

"...Ummm." He actually looks nervous, pressing fingers together. "Those are Flegmat Humors. They should be mostly harmless... usually...!"

Usually?

"Usually it'd be Colerics running in to greet us, it's their job to keep anything not part of their Atelier... and those aren't Colerics. And I don't see a Sanguin Humor calling the shots..."

As an Atelier-origin entity himself, if Roger is expressing worry about this, that's all the better reason to heed what he has to say - and a good heads-up for what they might expect of the immediate environment beyond this, should they get through without major incident.
</poem>

MONAD: Roger has acted with Four Temperaments Theory toward In These Halls, Terror! Find and Efficient!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Umie is a terrible person who let her childhood friend Taro-kun die, after he answered her call and came to her side.
...But Taro-kun was a demon, no different than the half-remembered Oni that lurk the halls. He attacked like a demon, and refused to listen to Umie's calls to hold back.

What makes a demon a demon? What makes a shadow a shadow? Even in this area, with the atelier and its Humors, the lines are blurred as half-remembered terrors become the garments of now.

Umie is not surprised, when she senses some resonances; she is likely inserting herself into business already being investigated.

Counterpoint: she has intel, and there is a Roger here. Umie has a debt to pay.

"The layout's the same as a typical Japanese school, right?" So there, very suddenly, is a person, as if she had been there all along: a young woman of about 155cm, oversized white winter jacket, black leggings, and a red turtleneck, as well as a black and white checkerboard halfmask with poppies, painted on.

... There is also the Badb, floating over her, which is likely the first sign that Umie was there to begin with.

".... Two dangers are turning around a corner to your left. There might be an opening if we go this way, but I won't be able to sense anything that's just sitting pretty until it's activated."

It is a foul fate to befall any party, but:

--Umie Akabane has forced her way into your party!--
(No, you may *not* change her equipment out, player.)
</poem>

MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Bird's Eye View toward In These Halls, Terror! Automap!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
As agreed upon, Kasumi and Morgana enter the Atelier from a different location, so they can protect their civilian identities, but what they find... Makes Kasumi ''really'' want to run. She sticks to the shadows with a hand firmly gripped on her rapier. They slowly progress through the shadows to meet up with Motojima-senpai and her allies.

"Motojima-san! This is terrifying!" Kasumi whispers. Her urgency might be lost by how low her voice is. She does ''not'' want to get caught.

Roger chimes in... 'Usually harmless'...? And no Sanguin humours? That's not good!

But... there's no choice, is there? But to continue through the horror school. Ooogghhh... Well, they can sneak along at least, staying to the edges the best they can. As they move, Kasumi can use her gymnastics knowledge to keep everyone to the shadows and teach subtle movement. She is surprisingly talented in sneaking around, after all.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Now that Belle and Mona are partners, of course Mona isn't letting Belle go by herself (well, with a group, but without ''him'') to a place that apparently is especially scary for women. He's easy enough to sneak into a net cafe, at least, and from there, it's just a matter of Belle clicking the appropriate link and both of them heading into the Atelier together.

It's not a pretty sight inside.

"What ''is'' this?" Mona mutters, peering at the eerie abandoned school corridors. His ears flick as he hears shushing, and he peeks around a corner with Kazusa just before a Flegmat Humor passes by. He frowns mightily, then leans back.

Fortunately, Kazusa's got a map. "Oh, you've got something good there, huh?" he remarks. He looks over at Roger as he explains about the Flegmats. "They sure don't look harmless now. It's interesting to see these Humour Shadows in person for the first time, though. ...Anyway, what ''are'' you? A pig?"

(Mona, be thoughtless to something he'd hate to have said to him? Perish the thought.)

Umie Umies her way in at that time, and Mona flicks his attention over to her. Awkward, considering he's definitely ''not'' here with Joker. He decides to conveniently act like everything's normal to encourage her not to ask questions. "Good job scouting, Umie," he says, even if between her and Roger, he's once again getting the distinct sense that maybe his partner wouldn't have needed him after all.

So when Belle whispers about how scared she is, his ears perk. "Don't worry, Belle, I'll protect you. We're partners, after all!" he whispers with a show of confidence. "Let's give these creepy Shadows the runaround!"

And as someone as small and cat-like as he is, Mona is ''very'' good at giving enemies the runaround.
</poem>

MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Proficiency toward In These Halls, Terror! Base!
MONAD: Kasumi Yoshizawa has acted with I Can Help! toward In These Halls, Terror! Specialty!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== In These Halls, Terror - Round 1 ======================================-
Ren Amamiya Proficiency Success
Proficiency Base Fatigue: 0 Morale: 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kasumi Yoshizawa Academics Success
I Can Help! Specialty Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umie Akabane Academics Success
Bird's Eye View Automap Fatigue: 0 Morale: 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Academics Success
Four Temperaments Th Find and Efficient Fatigue: 0 Morale: 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kazusa Motojima Academics Success
Fashion Talk Smarts and Patra Fatigue: 0 Morale: 1
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Ineptitude-2, Shuffle: Sword-0, and Stupor-2
Final Conditions: Ineptitude-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 1/6 |= | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 1, Gear: 1
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has drawn a new Challenge!

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 2 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: In The Streets of Our Youth, Peril |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Guts |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, Ineptitude - Proficiency Down |
| L2, Shuffle - Draw 1 Minor Arcana., and Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

Once out of the school, you arrive in what seems like a population center,
albeit one shrouded in morning mist that's turned into pea-soup fog. It only
goes so far up though, and above it, some few may recognize the skyline of
Mikage-Cho's first ward. It does give some visible sense of direction at
least, though one needs to know where they're going, now don't they?

Soundlessly, a human-sized silhouette in the fog suddenly appears. Staring
right at your group from a distance on this road. The silhouette of an
Origami spirit hovering over his shoulder Right before he raises a great
Sledgehammer he has in hand and slams it into a manhole cover, causing it to
rattle and echo like a great metallic gong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPs_zt4wiP4

And in response, a whole chorus of howls can be heard upon the horizon. The
figure in the silhouette has already vanished, next time you look.

What doesn't vanish, are the sounds of countless humors rushing down your
position. The Coleric Humors take the appearance of rotting, animated
corpses, zombies. However, among them are those taking the appearance of
demons.

Strange gothic angels, Pretas, Poultergeists and Slimes. None of them are
quite right, as if there was something distorted about them. Like someone
trying to draw a picture of something they only glimpsed briefly.

Fighting through them will be a slog, but it's quite possible, certainly. Of
course, you could attempt to navigate the fog and find a place to hide until
the horde loses track of you.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa normally can't get on board with Roger's play-centric worldview. But then again, her life is stressful pretty constantly, for a number of different reasons. The girl never really gets to relax.

But she ''will'' get on board with Remove the Homunculus. That is one game she would speedrun if she could.

Kazusa nods seriously to Roger as she listens. Despite how hard she finds it to get on board with his overall demeanor, she ''is'' serious about including him and looking out for him. "So Fontaine-san was right, then." Dammit. That makes driving her off feel even ''worse''. "Things must be really bad."

She all but jumps when Umie speaks up, slapping a hand over her mouth to stifle a noie and then whirling around to stare at Umie. "Wha-- who are you!?" she demands in a hushed voice. "You're not the person I'm expecting."

Then she stops, blinking as she turns her head to look at what she cannot see. "Wait, you can track those things?" As much as she hates to say it, that could be useful. With a scowl, she says, "Fine. Then, just stay close and don't do anyting reckless."

But she lets out a relieved sigh when she hears Belle's voice. "Belle-san. You made it." He own voice is kept low. "Yeah, I don't like it much either. Our first step is getting out of here."

At least Belle remembered to say Motojima''-san'' this time, and not -senpai. Kazusa is actually pleased by that.

"It's an Atelier," Kazusa responds to Mona without even realizing it. "And yes, it's a map--" She frowns and does a double take at Mona. "''Another'' one?" she says with an already-exasperated sigh. (She means 'another person joining unexpectedly.) She shakes her head. "Whatever. ''Roger-san''--" she indicates the pig "--is with ''me''. ... What are you supposed to be, anyway, a cat?"

Sorry Mona, but turnabout is fair play.

But, with all of their combined efforts, they can easily make their way through the halls. Roger's knowledge is immensely useful, as is Umie's Navigational ability. Belle's movement tips prove equal to the task, and for the few close calls they ''do'' have, Mona proves excellent at drawing away the attention of the Flegmats. (Kazusa is supervising. It's fine.)

But eventually they escape the school confines, and Kazusa lets out a relieved breath. She's actually a fair bit shaken, but she's trying to keep a lid on things. "Now that we're out of ''that'' place..." She points to herself. "Kazusa Motojima." Points to Roger. "Roger." And then Belle. "Belle." And then she looks at Umie and Mona. "And you two are...?" (Belle and Roger, at least, she told that each that she had another person coming with her.)

Once that's done she turns to survey the skyline. "Alright. So if I'm reading this map coprrectly," she mutters to herself. "We should be able to go..."

She doesn't notice the large figure with a sledgehammer approaching, so absorbed she is in figuring out the way. "Hey--" she's gesturing vaguely to Umie, using whatever alias she cares to give. "Can you sense any hospitals?"

*CLANG*

Kazusa ''jumps'' with a startled yelp. "What the heck--!?" And then the howls start, and Kazusa feels her blood freeze as she whips her head around.

"We're too exposed," she declares as she starts to move forward. She throws her cloak off, revealing her tunic, mini-skirt, stockings, and boots. (And a wolf tail.) On her hip is a whip, and she snatches it up. "Stay together, let's find cover!"

She can use her movement training to navigate the terrain, and her whip will pull triple duty for trying to trip up enemies and slow down the hoard, pulling others out of harms' way, or latching on to objects to navigate obstacles.
</poem>

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has acted with Flowing Rhythm toward In The Streets of Our Youth, Peril! Diligence and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger's cheery waving over breaks from the dreary environs, but this tonal shift is short-lived. An Atelier overtaken by a Homunculus is always 'something very wrong is going on.' This feels ''especially'' more wrong than usual.

"A pig? Nope!" Roger smiles, rolling back and forth on his feet that are on the verge of simply being too small anatomically. "I'm a Sanguin Humor!" A beat. "Was?"

Then, a tilt of his head, and an inquisitive snort which is always a bit weird on something with a human-analogous appearance. "I decided I want to play with everyone as someone! So I'm here with everyone else now in your world. Though, um," a bit confused, "I don't think I've seen a... cat... like you?"

oh no

There is also suddenly an Umie.

Umie, and her greater sense of perception of supernatural spaces. If Roger is able to get into the nitty gritty about the make of the land, Umie seems to already have her advantage about the lay of the land.

"Oh! Wow, we really almost fell into the mud..."

Belle is right, though. This is terrifying.

Still, they make it, so far.

There's a chorus of howls, and Roger's eyes open. On one hand, he should be relieved... should! Because if the Coleric Humors were all gone, ''that's bad''.

"Watch out! Those are Coleric Humors!" He draws his tennis racquet, squares up, and bounces a tennis ball as he prepares to hurl them at some of the more distant targets with skillful serves!

He looks to Belle with a more determined look on his face. "We're the only ones who can help Nagisa-kun! So let's do this together and save his bacon!"

He adds, a moment later. "Fighting the Coleric Humors won't hurt him any! Go whole hog!!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
'Wha-- who are you?' Umie gives Kazusa a cheeky little grin. "No time to explain~"

Oh, she *should* introduce herself. "I'm--"
'Good job scouting, Umie.' As if she finally noticed Mona there, the confident blonde immediately jumps back on one foot, her lips biting back a loud gasp. "... S-sorry, I... didn't, ah, realize you were there." She clears her throat, trying to regain that cool guise of experienced confidence, "Keeping me on my toes, as expected."

However, for Belle, Umie doesn't have much comfort to give, now that she notices her. "It won't get any better from here, if this is what I think it is," Umie says to Belle quietly. "Do the names on the map ring any bells with any of you?" Better to ask first, than present what you know, especially as it may or may not be applicable to what's happening here. Oh. Right. Belle is a Phantom Thief, right? She's seen her with at least Joker a few times, so... (Thankfully, because of Umie's assumptions, it seems natural that Mona would be here with a fellow Thief.)

She looks at Roger, and Mona, then back to Kazusa. ".... They're who they say they are," she says, a touch defensively. "No different from us. As for me... well, since Mona-san's already said so, I'm Umie." She glances down to Mona. "This is the guy I mentioned a bit back," she says, motioning to Roger.

But, scouting. Umie looks back at Kazusa. "I can only sense some things. I'm not a navigator." But obviously, if Umie is able to see where danger is coming, they'll be fine, right?

Exhibit B. as to why they are not fine: a being that is simply out there to ring a manhole cover to alarm the troops? Not technically something the Badb is interested in, so Umie only spots it the same time everyone else does.

"........ There's.... uh... danger, coming," Umie mutters flatly, as the many Humors, donning their costumes of trauma and fear, come to collect.

"I'll take responsibility." She frowns, and drawing her hand, summoning the gleeful Badb, who shrieks her joyful call for blood, hopefully scattering the horde into far more easily evaded, confused groups.
</poem>

MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Blackbird's Bite toward In The Streets of Our Youth, Peril! Bravery and Focus!
MONAD: Roger has acted with Guts toward In The Streets of Our Youth, Peril! Base!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Morgana gives out some boasts in defending Kasumi, which does get her to smile a little. "Don't get separated, okay, Mona?" She asks instead of praise. "We should stick together for situations like this." (She means hell schools).

It's a relief to leave the school and into the open air of a population center. And this fog, it reminds Kasumi of some game she's seen before. The skyline... Where is this? Belle crosses her arms... "Where are we? It's...not Tokyo, that's for sure."

As Kazusa introduces everyone though, Kasumi gives a small wave as her codename 'Belle' is called. "It's good to meet you properly, Roger-san, and... Akabana-san." She'll finish, as Umie introduces herself. "This is Mona." A beat, as Kazusa hits on a sore spot. "Who's not a cat." She corrects. "We need to stay stealthy, Mona...!"

Although... Stealthy quickly goes out the window as a big gong gets hit, startling Kasumi pretty badly as she nearly drops her rapier. "Gah~! What the-" Oh. Oh, she can see the horde awaken. Roger calls something, and Kasumi nods! "Yes! Let's do our best!" Kazusa charges forth, and Kasumi follows! She grabs her gun and shoots any that get too close, to protect everyone. Maybe, just maybe, they'll be able to dodge through the fog well enough!

</poem>
MONAD: Kasumi Yoshizawa has acted with Beauty is Devotion! toward In The Streets of Our Youth, Peril! Diligence and
Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Umie jumps and gasps at Mona! He's not thrilled about that, as the look on his face and the folding of his paws attests. "Right. Exactly it," he says anyway. He recognizes when someone's trying to protect their pride, and his needs protecting now too--especially when Belle tells him not to get separated. A sweatdrop beads down his giant, cartoonish head. "R-right..."

"That's right," Mona tells Kazusa more brazenly--of 'another one,' that is. When she asks him if he's a cat, he glowers, ears flattening. However, he knows a pointed snipe when he hears one. (At least when Roger says it, it's clearly a question.) "Ugh. I guess I was asking for that one... ''No'', I'm not a cat; I'm a human, just like you. I only look like a cat for reasons. And if Roger's with you, ''I'm'' with Belle. Deal with it."

He knows that Kazusa isn't as bad as she seems sometimes, but she's got a Vibe to her right now and he's in no mood to put up with it.

Roger says he's not a pig, though with considerably good cheer. Instead, he's-- "A Sanguin Humor? You mean you're a Shadow?" Mona utters, surprised. He adds a very key word, and Mona echoes it: "''Was''? ...Never mind. We can talk about it later. I want to hear about that, though." Umie mentions that this is the guy she mentioned before, and he frowns, but says nothing more about it for now.

Regardless, once they're all through and out of the school, Mona gives the group a satisfied little nod. "Not too shabby, everyone. I can see why Belle wanted to work with you all." Umie technically excluded, but Mona knows her well. "Like she said, you can call me Mona."

And he is indeed not a cat! Good on Belle for mentioning it.

Where ''is'' this though? Mona can't say he recognizes this skyline, but with amnesia, maybe that only makes sense. As Kazusa inspects the map, Mona turns his attention around, searching for any threats. Boy oh boy, does he ever find one. Tension fills the foggy air as he stares down the shadowy figure, leering at them all in silence. There's no doubt about it: this is a ''massive'' threat. The shiver running down his spine and spiking the fur on his back can attest to that.

"Hey, over there," he hisses--and he's already leaping in front of Belle when the figure with its strange little origami companion swings its sledgehammer. However, it attacks--the ground?

A second later, Mona understands why. "Woah!!" he utters as a localized earthquake not only upsets everyone's footing, but also summons a horde of howling Humours. Kazusa directs everyone to run for cover. Mona instead draws his cutlass from thin air.

"I'll hold 'em off! Go, go!" he urges the others as he leaps forward towards the horde of Colerics, heart hammering. "Come on, you zombie freaks! Just try and eat me!" he taunts, more bravado than anything else. He knows he can't take on a swarm of this size all on his own.

Fortunately, he doesn't have to. Pretty much the entire group besides Kazusa chooses violence. On the one paw, Mona appreciates how reliable they seem to be in a pinch, but on the other, c'monnnn, he was trying to be cool...! Oh well. He'll call up Zorro to summon windstorms to blow the enemies back along with Umie's Badb while Belle and Roger get in those ranged hits. At least Kazusa will have plenty of time to inspect the map and figure out their route out of here!
</poem>

MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with The Essence of Gentleman Thievery toward In The Streets of Our Youth, Peril! Bravery
and Patra!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== In The Streets of Our Youth, Peril - Round 2 ==========================-
Ren Amamiya Guts Success
The Essence of Gentl Bravery and Patra Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kasumi Yoshizawa Proficiency Success
Beauty is Devotion! Diligence and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umie Akabane Guts Success
Blackbird's Bite Bravery and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Guts Success
Guts Base Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kazusa Motojima Proficiency Success
Flowing Rhythm Diligence and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 3
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Clumsy-2, Ineptitude-1, Shuffle: Sword-0, and
Terrifying-2
Final Conditions: Terrifying-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 2/6 |== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 1, Gear: 1
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has drawn a new Challenge!

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 3 - Challenge Level 3 ===========================================-
| Card: To Gamble on Your Future, Know What You Are Willing to Lose |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Academics |
| Conditions: Bless - +1 to Group Roll (Per Character), Ineptitude - |
| Proficiency Down L2, Shuffle - Draw 1 Minor Arcana., Stupor - Academics |
| Down L1, and Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

While traveling the cognitive Mikage-Cho, you pass through the Atelier's
version of the Mikage Sun Mall. The exterior is dilapidated, and within,
most of the stores have been looted and burned out. Hostile Humors lurk, but
there's one storefront that's still solid and thus defensible: the chain
casino, Judgment 1999. You sneak in to wait for a chance for the enemies to
thin and pass through the mall.

As you wait, you see inside that most of the gambling machines are broken,
save one: Code Breaker. In this game, you guess numbers for prizes, and the
more you guess correctly, the better the prize you get. But beware, for if
you fail to guess /any/ numbers correctly, you'll have to fight through a
swarm of Coleric Humors to flee the mall...

Use your smarts to calculate the odds. Otherwise, luck is also a skill!

OOC: The "numbers" are based on total successes vs. failures, including the
overall success/failure! The prizes can be items, money, weapons, or armor,
based on your preference; feel free to use this to justify an upgrade.
Contact Shinichi's player for a guideline of what you might win, or else
just go for money.

If everyone succeeds, you win a super premium prize! If there are more
successes than failures, you get a good prize! If there's an equal number of
successes to failures, you get a decent prize! If you get more failures than
successes, you get a mediocre prize! And if everyone fails, well... Better
hope you don't...

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Is Roger a Sanguin Humor still? Does he count as something else? Kazusa does not know the answer to that question (she's still kind of catching up on some aspects of the supernatural, not having been at this as long as some others.) "We can figure that out later," is all Kazusa has to say on that. (It comes out a little meaner than she'd intended; she's just trying to stay focused.)

But Roger calls out that they can fight the Cholerics as much as they want without harming Shinichi. "Got it!" That is actually helpful to know--Kazusa's gotten the rundown but hasn't ''been'' in an Atelier yet.

At least Kazusa wasn't the only one surprised by Mona. But when Umie asks if any of the names ring a bell, Kazusa nods. "It's Mikage-cho, right? There was some.... chemical spill or a gas leak or something there a few years ago." She says it so matter-of-factly, it's clear she doesn't really understand the significance of what she's just said.

And why would she? Whe wasn't even Awakened then.

"... Just 'Umie'?" Kazusa says, skeptically. "Fine. Umie-san, then." She's not in a mood to argue about manners.

Belle makes the introduction. "Mona-san," she says. She arches an eyebrow at Belle next as she says Mona... is not a cat. A statement that Mona also backs up, with the additional clarification of being a human. Kazusa stares at him for a moment, but then nods. "Fine. But just so we're clear, I'm not a wolf. Or a wolfgirl."

And he's with Belle. Kazusa looks at Kasumi for a moment but then nods. "Fine. I don't have time to argue about it anyway."

(Kazusa definitely has a vibe, and she definitelyisn't handling it well.)

The hordes come, and violence seems to be the order of the day. Umie's Badb helps scatter the crowds into smaller, more manageable groups, which helps Roger and Belle with picking them off from a distance. Mona is still ''very'' cool in dispatching his own portion of the horde, which helps with keeping the long-range support from being overwhelmed.

Kazusa isn't using ''no'' violence, but she's much more focused on finding a safe spot, (and the others clearing and scattering the crowds helps her advance), and she eventually returns the favor by calling everyone into cover, which happens to be a still-defensible Judgement 1999 in the abandoned Mikage Sun Mall.

After rebarricading the entrance Kazusa pants heavily, leaning against a wall after coiling her whip and hanging it off of her belt. "Okay," she says in between pants, "I am ''so'' not playing Quiet Valley anytime soon." She shudders, hugging herself before pulling her cloak back on. "''Please'' tell me my Homunculus didn't mess my Atelier up anywhere near this bad."

The bad news for Kazusa is, this may not all be the Homucnulus' doing.

But the storefront is in realtively good condition, and Kazusa starts to look around. "Well, since we're here..."

Lots and lots of games. And most of them... Kazusa frowns as she pokes at one after the other."Busted, no power, no ''screen''..." she mutters to herself. "Hang on-- Hey, check this out."

It's Code Breaker, and Kazusa is already studying the ruleset. "Hrrmmm... look at the materials on... that one, and that one," she remarks of the prizes. "Those look pretty high-quality. So maybe..."

She'll start trying to figure out the number sequence, and accept anyone else's help who cares to give it.
</poem>

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has acted with Fashion Talk toward To Gamble on Your Future, Know What You Are Willing to Lose!
Smarts and Patra!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Umie groans, her hand in one hand, as Mona folds his arms. "I can't help it if you guys always get by my senses..."

As for their party, Kazusa was not known for being the most amiable person before her transformation, and right now, the reins of leadership seem to be pulling tight. Then again, it's not as if she asked for the amount of people the party's swelled to. She was likely counting on just Belle, and now, with Mona and her own self... Ehhh. A little bit of experience hurt no one. Umie'll just need to stay sharp; Mona is clearly here for Belle's support, just as Roger is for Kazusa's.

'Just 'Umie'?' Umie gives her a sharp smile. "It keeps things easy, right?"
'It's good to meet you properly, Roger-san, and... Akabana-san.' Ah. Belle must have heard her last name from the others. "... Umie Akabane," Umie relents, with a forlorn sigh. "It's good to meet you as well, Belle-san."

-=-=-=-

'Please/ tell me my Homunculus didn't mess my Atelier up anywhere near this bad.' "It was only as messy as it needed to be," is all Umie says, as they rest, holed up inside the Mall.

"... Mikage-cho, if that map was any indication. And yes, there *was* something like that, wasn't there?" She tilts her head towards Kazusa. "But, when have they ever openly talked about supernatural things in the press?" She walks with the group. "It would be very strange for nothing to have happened until recently." A pause. "Because, there *was* an incident." Which is an understatement of the year. Umie shrugs. "Can't tell you much else, though; I wasn't there."

Actually Umie *could*, but that information is not hers to share, nor would it help any, in this case. The Atelier tells the story well enough on its own. "Supernatural things happen, without us necessarily knowing about it. And afterwards, life goes on, even for the people who were caught up in those events."

As Kazusa pokes through the games, Umie's curiosity is piqued; she peers in. ".... Huh... Well, I mean, it won't hurt to try, would it?"

There may be some significance here, as well, if this game is still able to run.
</poem>

MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Academics toward To Gamble on Your Future, Know What You Are Willing to Lose! Base!

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "A human...?" Roger echoes the assertion by Mona with a thought. "Okay! There's very small humans out there too." Children. They're called children. Mona is not children. (probably)

It's chaos getting to somewhere that at least has the ''air'' of something approaching safety. At least, a place they can barricade, take in some deep breaths and consider themselves and their next move, and...

"Even with the Homunculus, you had Sanguin Humors still doing everything you wanted to do and be," he says, but he's not making eye contact because Roger is transfixed at the Code Breaker machine and is already punching in numbers without much care or thought outside of just enjoying putting numbers onto a provided metal card. (They probably don't make this kind of metal card any more.)

The talk of Mikage-cho goes over his head.
</poem>

MONAD: Roger has acted with Game Skills toward To Gamble on Your Future, Know What You Are Willing to Lose! Specialty!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"Oh! Was that supposed to be a secret, Akabane-san?" Kasumi clasps a hand her mouth. "Sorry..."

"Mikage-cho, huh...?" Kasumi wonders aloud. "Oh yeah, I remember hearing something about that." She crosses her arms, as she wonders. "There's some Demons out there too. So strange..." She doesn't know what it is either.

Wait. Kazusa was worried about hurting Shinichi? That suddenly clicks for Kasumi, and as she shoots one more humour, she yells a loud "Sorry!" Now she just feels bad...

They make it through thankfully! They create a fighting retreat and land at a Judgement 1999, and Kasumi is happy to help set up a barricade. "I don't think Quiet Valley has hordes like this." She replies with a little laugh. She's doing better in terms of stamina. "No, your Atelier was nice. It was like Akihabara, mainly." She's not a nerd, so she doesn't know what a convention is, really.

Kasumi does however, take the opportunity to follow Kazusa as she looks through the selection. "It's a shame there's nothing good... Ah!" There's one!

Kazusa might go straight to analyzing Code Breakers, but Kasumi... "This one, this one, and this one!" Well, luck is always a skill, and Kami-sama does have favourites. "Mona, do you have any picks too?~"

</poem>
MONAD: Kasumi Yoshizawa has acted with Proficiency toward To Gamble on Your Future, Know What You Are Willing to Lose!
Base!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Riight," Mona says to Kazusa, humongous eyes narrowed, of her being neither a wolf nor a wolfgirl. He'd just called her a human, so he thinks she's trying to make fun of him. He's choosing not to pick a fight over it though.

...any more than his tone already would, anyway. At least Umie's reason for ''why'' she didn't notice him brings back some cheer. "Heheh~ I guess you can't, huh?"

As for small humans... Well, there's small humans out there that aren't children too. Mona gets the feeling that's not what Roger's thinking, and he only sweatdrops again. "R-right... Sure."

Same goes for Belle and Umie's last name. He'll stay out of that one.

The fight goes well, at least. The group still has to retreat, but they retreat without taking any serious injuries and find a place that's well-defensible while more Humours stalk around outside.

"Whew. That was a rough one. Nothing we couldn't handle, though, right, Belle?" Mona smiles over at her. To the others, he adds, "If anyone needs it, I've got healing magic."

He'll heal the others as needed, too--and while he's not familiar with Mikage-cho, he notes the name and what Kazusa and Umie say about an 'incident,' both the public-facing news and the implication of what lurks beneath. Supernatural things happen, and afterwards, life goes on...

"As long as you don't get cursed, that is," Mona mutters, though his demeanor's more forlorn than bitter.

However, when Kazusa notes that there is a ''game'' to be played, and it has some pretty sweet prizes, Mona scurries over and hops up nimbly to get a better look.

"Huh. You've got a good eye," he remarks, nodding approvingly. (Based on what he knows about her and has heard about her Atelier, he's not surprised.) "All right, leave it to me! I'll have ''this'' code cracked in no time! ...Probably!"

Well, at the very least, he'll contribute towards crunching the numbers and figuring out a likely sequence. And also towards going, "Hey, HEY!! You can't just punch in random numbers! That has no delicacy!!" and attempting to reel Roger in from his random number-punching.

Of course, Belle's little better with her cheerfully picking at random. Mona deflates with a heavy sigh. Luck really is a skill, though, so he nods. He'll have his analysis ready in a moment!
</poem>

MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Here's How It Is! ...I Think! toward To Gamble on Your Future, Know What You Are
Willing to Lose! Smarts and Focus!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== To Gamble on Your Future, Know What You Are Willing to Lose - Round 3 =-
Ren Amamiya Academics Success
Here's How It Is! .. Smarts and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kasumi Yoshizawa Proficiency Success
Proficiency Base Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umie Akabane Academics Failure
Academics Base Fatigue: 1 Morale: 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Proficiency Failure
Game Skills Specialty Fatigue: 1 Morale: 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kazusa Motojima Academics Failure
Fashion Talk Smarts and Patra Fatigue: 1 Morale: 3
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Bless-0, Ineptitude-2, Shuffle: Wand-0, Stupor-2, and
Terrifying-1
Final Conditions: Stupor-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 1, Gear: 1
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has drawn a new Challenge!

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 4 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: In This Place of Healing, I Know Only How to Harm |
| Approach Options: Guts or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, Stupor - Academics Down L1, and |
| Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

Eventually you come to a towering hospital, shrouded in mist. A single
window on the third floor flickers with a glowing shade of crimson,
eternally lit in the night.

Pushing into the lower floor of the hospital are Coleric Humors, in the
shapes of zombies, easily dispatched. What's more disturbing though is what
occurs as one pushes into a treatment room, or an operating theater.

Hulking Melanc 'Orderlies' wearing purloined patchwork pads that look like
sporting equipment are merciless torturing Sanguine Humors strapped down to
some treatment tables, every single one a girl dressed in patient gowns,
missing some part of their features.

Some their eyes, some their mouth. Inevitably something is missing upon
them, as if lost to time. They poke and prod, and sometimes beat them with
sticks, injecting them with chemicals, or even just emotionally berating
them.

Under the influence of the Homunculus, the Melanc Humors have become barely
articulate monsters, who grunt out only single word invectives against them.

"Stupid."
"Bitch."
"Parasite."

The Sanguine Humors, once powerful beings in their own right are mostly
barely sensate from the pain of their torment, but some of them manage to
turn their heads your way, pleading without words- not for themselves, but
for the salvation of this place from its new master.

It would be simplest to just use the fact the Melanc Humors are preoccupied
to sneak by, these are only Shadows after all. Saving the Atelier will save
them right? That is, if you can manage to look the other way...

But if provoked to try to save them, the Melanc Shadows howl like beasts,
more vicious than they ought to be slavering as they pounce onto you,
swinging a stick the size of a person like a bludgeon.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa definitely isn't known for being the post patient person, no. But at the very least, her impatience is directed towards keeping everyone safe, actively looking out for the party (even as she complains about the extra members.)

It's progress?

(Plus, if Umie knew exactly what this threat meant to her, it might be all the more understandable why she's so on edge.)

"Akabane-san, then," Kazusa says firmly, once the last name comes out. "Even simpler."

Only as messy as it needed to be. "''That's'' reassuring," Kazusa says in a way that indicates it isn't. But Roger actually has something more reassuring to say, on that front. "They were, huh... those were the owlgirls, right? They were the palace's... advisors," she muses, a bit distractedly. She only got a little bit of time to be in there.

But she stops and frowns as she looks at Umie. "... what was that about supernatural things in the press?" There ''was'' an incident, but Umie doesn't have anything to share. Kazusa frowns, and she looks out towards the mall. "... it was about..." Her eyes widen in shock. "Wait-- the middle school. Was he ''there''!?"

Belle mentions demons, and Kazusa frowns towards her. "There's demons out that way? And they're in here..." she mutters. "Weren't there... some in Hana Fukami's Kingdom, too...?" Is there a common thread? Probably not.

Quiet Valley doesn't have zombie hordes, says Belle. "Maybe not, but I won't really be in the mood for a horror game for a while..." Which means she plays horror games. Ssssh, don't point it out that she just said that.

Kazusa might have missed Mona calling her a human. She's a bit stressed and distracted. Sorry, Mona.

But Mona has healing magic! "Oh, me too," Kazusa says, a bit distractedly (still.) "Good. Then that means we can share the healing duties."

But then Mona ''compliments her'', and Kazusa blinks a little, looking him over. Okay, it's nice to be recognized, even if she won't say that part out loud. "... Thanks." Maybe her voice is a touch softer, at that.

'Hey, HEY!! You can't just punch in random numbers! That has no delicacy!!'

"Right? That goes for you too, Belle-san." Okay, Mona appreciates Mona a little bit more now. Cat or not, he's at least trying to be ''sensible'' with the code breaking.

And unfortunately for her sense of inner peace, hers, Roger's, and Umie's efforts don't bear as much fruit as Mona's code-breaking and Belle's cheerful picking. Kazusa crosses her arms, frowning. "... well, at least we got a decent prize out of it."

"... whatever. We should keep moving."

Luckily, the time it's taken them to play Code Breaker means that the zombie hordes have settled down by now, and they can sneak out and keep moving forward... right until they get to a tall, towering hospital.

"... this is the place Fontaine-san told me about," Kazusa says, referencing the map. "Everyone, stay on your guard."

Only a single light on the third floor flickers. "... why do I get the feeling I'm ''really'' not going to like what's in that room?" And yet, it's the most obvious plce to go.

Choleric Zombies are easily dispatched, but as Kazusa peers into a treatment room, it's not a pretty sight. All of the girls in pateitn gowns are missing some part. Some are beaten, some injected, others berated.

Her hand flies to her mouth and she yanks herself back, looking upset. "I th-think those are the Melancs--" she says in a very hushed whisper. "And they're ''torturing''... Sanguins?"

She looks to Roger for confirmation, a chill running down her spine. "Didn't you say the Sanguins fight back? This is--really bad, isn't it?"

It would be way easier to sneak on by, it's true. The Melac is distracted, but... Kazusa's jaw sets, as she looks back in the room. "... Roger-san. If we free some of them, will it help?"

Hopefully the answer is 'Yes', because it's clear Kazusa intends to try and do something. The Melancs may be brutal, but Kazusa will try to use her gymnastics-given agility to dance out of the way of blows and attack with her whip.

And also hopefully someone sees fit to give her backup.
</poem>

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has acted with Flowing Rhythm toward In This Place of Healing, I Know Only How to Harm! Diligence
and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> The joy of play does not win the day. Code Breaker is not a button masher. (Sudoku is not a strong suit, apparently.)

"Eee! What? But, if we don't know the numbers, it's random anyway!" There may be sound logic to the thought only when it comes to the first guess, and it is maybe for the best he's not the one who does the future guessing!

Soon enough... a hospital. Going beyond the established particulars...

The aesthetics of the offputting hospital are one thing, but Roger freezes when he first starts hearing the terrible words, and seeing the sights of the altered Melanc Humors has Roger snort and hold up a hand.

"Those ''are'' Melanc Humors!" Roger snorts out, stomping a foot. He turns around. "Melanc Humors are part of an Atelier too! They're the ones that reflect things you don't like about yourself. And, um, they moderate Sanguin Humors."

'Didn't you say the Sanguins fight back? This is--really bad, isn't it?'

"Uh huh!" Roger confirms. "A Homunculus always overtakes the Melanc Humors and makes 'em their lackeys! Then they turn around and make an even bigger mess of things!" Roger says, a bit too spirited for the environs. "They're still part of the Atelier, so that's why Coleric Humors won't go after them." He lightens some, as if ready to go to tears. "If it weren't for friends like you, I wouldn't have been able to help save the Atelier I came from..."

"'If we free some of them, will it help?'"

"That's right!" Roger says. "It's not easy to get to the Homunculus as long as they're working for 'em... and it'd help make it easier for everyone else who's come to play on our team too. Even so, seeing the Flegmat Humors like they were..."

This is falling off, verbally, as if Roger acknowledges they are running out of time. He shakes his head. "Never mind that! We gotta buy Nagisa-kun as much time as we can! No Sanguin Humor would ever want to stop doing what they want to do on behalf of an Atelier's rightful owner!"

From there, as Kazusa takes to battle, Roger follows after, swinging his tennis racquet into a passing blue butterfly. It shatters, and the colorful form of Kamapua'a shows, backing Kazusa up with an array of watery magics.
</poem>

MONAD: Roger has acted with Guts toward In This Place of Healing, I Know Only How to Harm! Base!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
'Was that supposed to be a secret, Akabane-san? Sorry.. Umie's expression falters as Belle expresses regret. "No, it's..." She sighs, rubbing the side of her neck. "It's fine, really. I can trust you all." Like Kasuza and her reasons for the party's numbers, Umie's own reasons for her half-hearted protest are shrouded.

'''That's'' reassuring.' Unlike with Belle, Umie seems to just smirk at Kazusa's sassiness, though, for the sake of group cohesion, she *doesn't* say anything back. (It's not that she'd say something bad, but she knows herself.)

Umie's gaze travels back to Roger, as he mentions his own experience with Kazusa. She smiles, a little. Really, she wasn't needed her at all, was she? Roger's been there, for all these Ateliers, helping all these newly formed Persona Users, despite having to figure out everything himself.

If it weren't for him, would they really have been able to help save people like Kazusa? And she, in turn, is here, helping here.

And Umie... "That was due to the the Order. One of their agents may have used their abilities to summon demons." Well, she can help, at least, to bridge those gaps. "As for the middle school, it's very likely. Persona Users were even less common then, so... if demons were lurking around, all people could do was hole up and hope for the best. Afterwards... well... if you told anybody you were attacked by a demon, would anyone believe you? Especially when the more logical explanation is right there."

She knows that feeling well.

Later, letting Mona heal her (as Umie lacks any abilities of her own), the blonde squints, concentrating on Mona. "Curses, huh..." She reaches out, hovering her finger in front of Mona, as if trying to sense some invisible, magical seal that only she can see.

It's just for show, though. "I can't sense good luck, but. I'm not sensing bad luck, either," she says quietly, trying to keep her words for Mona. It's difficult, however, given their surroundings. "But maybe your luck's wearing a mask too." She failed to connect the dots: Mona, saying that he is a human, and his 'curse' being what makes him a cat.

-=-=-=-

Now, as they approach a hospital, Umie gestures. ".... Well, there's the hospital."

-=-=-=-

The insides.... less so. Umie's been no fan of hospitals, and her experiences with cognitive ones have not helped any, for that. She finds herself focusing on Roger now, using that confidence as a means to stand as well.

'We gotta buy Nagisa-kun as much time as we can!' It brings to mind Yanagi Nagisa.... but surely, they're not related, right?
'Stupid.'
'Bitch.'
'Parasite.'

Right? Yanagi Nagisa is 'not doing well', but she's turned '20'. She went to the izakaya bar with Umie, Remi, Shinobu, and Shiryuu.

"Don't look," she whispers, and it's as much a plea to the 'younger' Persona Users (even if it's only a few years at most) as it is for Badb's powers, which extend a weaker, more shallow shroud over those who attempt to free the Sanguine Humors.
</poem>

MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Blackbird's Bite toward In This Place of Healing, I Know Only How to Harm! Bravery
and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"Right, Mona!" Belle pumps her arms with a smile. "We did a good job!"

Kasumi also lets out a laugh as Kazusa replies. "Yeah, I don't think I can look at them the same way either now."

Kasumi additionally beams as Mona and Kasuza seem to get along, so she gives Mona some good work pets. Especially now that he's taller now!

She might get yelled at moments after, but it works out okay on her end! "See?~ You can't overthink these things sometimes!" If only she'd take that advice for her real life... It's nice to see a decent prize pop up though!

"Fontaine-san's our information?" She remembers the mean French girl-and her unfortunately pick in beaus. She tightens her hand instinctively. "Are we sure our information is solid then?" She asks, not... meaning to shade Isabeau, but ends up doing so anyways. Well, if Kazusa believes it... And it is the most obvious option...

The feminine sanguins... Being tortured by some Melacs... Kasumi too, claps a hand over her mouth to keep her from attracting any attention. She has a sickly feeling collecting in the pit of her stomach. Once she trusts herself to not say something too loud... "That's... so awful..." She murmurs as she lifts her hand off of her mouth.

Saving the sanguins will help. That's a major relief. Kasumi can't overlook this either. "On your mark, Motojima-senpai."

Kazusa charges, and Kasumi follows up fast on her heels. "Let's go!" She tears her rapier from her sheath, as she attempts to slash through!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa has a shocking revelation: could Shinichi Nagisa have been there for the Mikage-cho Incident? Mona's shocked too. "So then that means this horror show's what that was ''like''?" He grows grave and folds his paws as Umie includes more context on the matter. "Makes sense... What we've seen so far would mess anybody normal up. He's probably got a lot of leftover trauma from it."

When Umie points a finger at him, Mona recoils. It turns out she's trying to sense 'bad luck' from him, which trips him up mentally until he realizes she's misunderstood what he meant about curses. "No, no, that's--never mind. We've got things to do," he murmurs back to her, somewhere between embarrassed that she overheard and touched that she tried to do something about it.

~ * ~

So Kazusa can heal, too... Figures, Mona does not say out loud. The two even get a tiny bonding moment at Judgment 1999! Will wonders never cease? He's rewarded with good-work pets from Belle, which also gets a similar mixed-embarrassed-and-pleased reaction that may or may not involve chirruping meows.

...even if they all did only get a decent prize out of it. What kind of prize? ...Well, anyway!

"Just because it worked out for you doesn't mean it was right. Roger didn't have any luck, did he?" Mona points out to Belle. Of course, neither did Kazusa using the same approach he did, but shhh. "Though, I guess you're not wrong either," he concedes.

He frowns thoughtfully when Belle expresses her doubt about how good that map really is if it came from Isabeau. "It's given us solid intel so far," he points out.

~ * ~

Onwards they go to the hospital that sits at the heart of the Atelier. Mona peers up at it, and especially at that one red-lit window, with a grimace. It's got an ominous air to it, even by the standards of this Atelier.

"Because you've got some common sense," Mona remarks to Kazusa, tail flicking. (Unlike SOME PEOPLE, ''ROGER''. He doesn't care what you say about the randomness of the numbers!!) "Let's go."

The Melancs' torture of the Sanguins really is horrible. Mona peeks in and recoils in horror at the sight, much like Kazusa. "What the hell ''is'' this?! Is this what's in that Nagisa kid's heart?!" he whispers harshly. Roger explains, though, what the balance of the Humours is supposed to be like--and how the presence of a Homunculus upsets it. He also implies some things about his own past. "I see... Then we've got to save those girls," Mona says firmly. Not that he doubted this crowd would be on board.

It's too late not to look now, Umie. Mona will charge in with the rest of them, taking advantage of his small and Umie's shrouding to dash across the floor and under the beds to reach the other side of the room and create an artificial pincer attack with Kazusa, Belle, and Roger on the other side via slingshot ammo.

Whoever it's actually directed towards, it's clear there's a lot of hatred in here. They need to seize any advantage they can get.
</poem>

MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Proficiency toward In This Place of Healing, I Know Only How to Harm! Base!
MONAD: Kasumi Yoshizawa has acted with Beauty is Devotion! toward In This Place of Healing, I Know Only How to Harm!
Diligence and Focus!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== In This Place of Healing, I Know Only How to Harm - Round 4 ===========-
Ren Amamiya Proficiency Success
Proficiency Base Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kasumi Yoshizawa Proficiency Success
Beauty is Devotion! Diligence and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umie Akabane Guts Success
Blackbird's Bite Bravery and Focus Fatigue: 1 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Guts Success
Guts Base Fatigue: 1 Morale: 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kazusa Motojima Proficiency Success
Flowing Rhythm Diligence and Focus Fatigue: 1 Morale: 5
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Clumsy-2, Stupor-1, and Terrifying-2
Final Conditions: Clumsy-1 and Terrifying-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 4/6 |==== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 1, Gear: 1
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has drawn a new Challenge!

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 5 - Challenge Level 3 ===========================================-
| Card: Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Charm |
| Conditions: Annoying - Charm Down L2, Boss - Add 1 Fatigue on failure., |
| Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, Ineptitude - Proficiency Down L2, and |
| Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

The elevator is out of order, forcing one to use the stairs to get up to the
third floor.

Once in the hallway, you can see the crimson glow of room 302 peering
through the cracks of the door.

Unfortunately, there's a Melanc Humor in the hallway, nearly three meters
tall, long spindly arms, holding a clipboard, and wearing a white coat- as
it stands over a Faceless Sanguine Nurse, still twitching upon the floor.

Upon his face is a perpetual, tired, apathetic look. "Time of Death, Fifteen
Thirty Two." As he casts Mudoon, and the Sanguine Nurse erupts, becoming a
pool of shapeless Ichor.

He then turns towards your group.

"So sad. So heart-breaking. I need to go on break... but I shouldn't. It's
so busy right now. So many patients are dying who need me to call them. So
little time. So little time."

He then moves forward, creeping on far too long legs, as his eyes glint with
the barest sliver of malice behind their sorrow, "Time of death, Fifteen
Thirty Three." And begins to cast Mudoon at one of you.

A direct fight is extremely dangerous, but unavoidable it would seem. Or is
it? There may be hope in convincing this Melanc Humor to go on break rather
than continue 'working'.

Of course, if you do fight it, it's not so much a matter of powering
through, as avoiding the dangerous Mudoon spell, cast repeatedly long enough
to score a decisive blow.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
The Order used their abilities to ''summon Demons''. "The Who? And-- wait people can ''do'' that!?" That is a hell of a gap to bridge. But as for the middle school... "... if they said anything, it'd just get written off as a hallucination from a chemical leak. Wouldn't it?" But then she frowns. "... but aren't normal people not supposed to remember the supernatural?"

She nods to Mona. "Yeah, it must have been... so all of this... Wait." Kazusa frowns, as she tries to recall. "--wait. He ''was'' there. That's what Nagisa-san said at Peacock Silk." That's ''Yanagi''. "They lived in the Mikage-Cho neighborhood several years ago."

'See?~ You can't overthink these things sometimes!' Kazusa turns to give Belle a flat look, but doesn't say anything in the moment.

* Kazusa will remember this. ... so she can repeat it back to Kasumi later.

But when Belle asks if Isabeau's information is reliable, Kazusa huffs. "It's ''fine''. She knows what she's doing. Do you think I can't evaluate the information I get?"

Bonding moment!

In the hospital, though, Kazusa's frown only deepens when Roger confirms what the Melancs are... and that they're still a reflection of an saspect of Shinichi.

... Oh no. That's what Isabeau was saying, wasn't it? Why was she even picking such a fight with her in the first place???

But Roger says it'll help. "Good. Then I intend to do something about it." But when he trails off... Kazusa looks subdued. "... I know. But you know what's happening to him in that Cocoon. If this gives us more time to ''reach'' him, we have to try."

Four of them opt to go in, and the last of them provide cover. It's a tough, grueling fight (and all the better that they have ''two'' healers, then), but eventually they can put down the Melancs, and then help free the Sanguins. Only, when they're let up...

Kazusa goes a little pale, as she realizes. "Th-they're all...!" She draws in a sharp breath as she looks towards the front doors. "mikage Hospital. ''That's'' where Yanagi Nagisa-san was hospitalized." Roger was there, but Kazusa looks to the others, trying to explain quickly. "She was hospitalized, and took up a lot of the family's time. One day, Shinichi Nagisa-san went to her hospital room and said..." She shakes her head. "... that's not important. The ''point'' is, something happened, she... appeared to die, I guess? And after that..."

She sucks in a sharp breath as she looks up vaguely in the direction of that one lit room. She has a sickening feeling she knows what they're about to find. "And all of this is..." His trauma, as Mona said.

She gives the Not-Yanagi Sanguin a concerned look. "Just... do what you can, okay? There are people trying to help. We... have to keep moving."

Getting to the third floor is a trek, but maybe it's for the best: you're supposed to avoid elevators when there's an emergency, right? (And who wants to be trapped in one right now anyway?)

Oh no. ''This'' is the spindly Melanc Isabeau wanred her about. There's a faceless nurse, too, that gets reduced to a puddle. And it's blocking the door, to boot.

Anmd he's looking at them.

"So sad. So heart-breaking. I need to go on break... but I shouldn't. It's so busy right now. So many patients are dying who need me to call them. So little time. So little time."

But there's a lot more apathy than menace, as it starts to cast Mudoon. "I'm going to try and talk it doesm," Kazusa hisses to the group. "Back me up if that doesn't work."

Kazusa steps up, arms crossed beneath her cloak. "Excuse me," she says sharply. "But what kind of sloppy work is this? You're not even going to call an orderly to clean up that mess you just made?" She gestures at the liquified Sanguin for emphasis.

"If you can't keep your standards up, I'm going to file a complaint. I insist you go take your break right now."

She looks cool and composed but under that facade she's sweating bullets.
</poem>

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima has acted with Demon Queen toward Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder! Patra and Efficient!

MONAD: Roger has acted with Proficiency toward Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder! Base!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> 'No, no, that's--never mind. We've got things to do.' Umie nods, relenting in her magical finger pointing. That part wasn't really needed; if he had the sort of bad luck she could sense, she would have been able to do that just fine without any added theatre.

But sometimes, she thinks it helps just a little bit more, with the power of belief.

'The Who? And-- wait people can ''do'' that?' "At least, with Fukami-san's Kingdom, that's the case," Umie clarifies, while not clarifying anything else. Huh, people who can summon demons. ISN'T THAT WEIRD.

Later, as she watches the group do that pincer maneuver, Umie's eyes widen. As scared as some of them may have been, when lives are on the line, they work together, eh?

Maybe she should have had more faith.

-=-=-

Going further in, Umie is forced to make a correction: she can sympathize with the silence that had to be kept, but there's a point where she has to admit she's left lacking.

Umie, at the very least, had a Persona, and had that Wall that allowed her to keep the night and the day separate. No one in Mikage-cho had that.

Kazusa brings up a good point, as well. "... Yeah, they wouldn't remember, would they? Usually, anyway. But we don't know what happens in cases like this." She doesn't know Shinichi at all, so it's easy to accept all of this without the foresight of context.

So... Yanagi and Shinichi *are* related. ".... I see..." Umie says, quietly. "Then... maybe this place is conflating those parts together."

-=-=-

Kasuza goes first, but Umie, not willing to wait, approaches behind as soon as she's managed to compartmentalize the spindly nurse's appearance. "No, I'm afraid we're not dead yet."

"You'll just waste your energy," she continues, taking another step ahead. "And besides, they really work you to the bone, don't they...? You look half dead yourself. No one's going to mind if you just wait a little, right?"

What's the difference between winning someone over and actually understanding them, in this case? Charisma, in Umie's mind, is about a battle. You work your way into an opponent's mind, get them on your side, and use that to your advantage.

"If we're dead by the time you're done, no one's going to tell, right?" She leans in, her eyelids lowering. "What's fifteen minutes to a dead person?"

This is how someone deals with demons. Can the same work here?
</poem>

MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Cheeky Gremlin Talk toward Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder! Focus and Find!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"Nagisa-san?" A bit. "Oh. Yeah... No wonder, this would have been...very traumatic." Kasumi bites her lower lip. "Poor Nagisa-san..."

"You did do a good job, Mona.~" Kasumi replies to the reproach with kindness. "It worked out well enough, after all."

Kazusa's memory is gonna be a problem for future Kasumi. Future Kasumi is going to ''hate'' Past Kasumi, who's Present Kasumi right now.

"Yeah, I guess so..." Kasumi replies again to Morgana, on the topic of Isabeau's map. Then, she shakes her head. "That was mean, wasn't it? I'm sure it'll work out well!"

Seeing the united agreement to end the Melancs torture makes Kasumi very, very happy. They put it to rest thankfully.% (Also, three healers actually Kazusa- Kasumi was just being polite earlier, but she'll use Diarama if need be.)

t "Yanagi Nagisa-san...?" Kasumi asks. "Oh, Nagisa-san's sister...?" She looks at the patients, and bites her lower lip How awful... She'll use a Diarama on one. It doesn't matter if healing magic doesn't work on humours, or normal humans, it's the meaning that counts "We're doing our best to help. We'll get you all back under control," she promises.

That poor nurse... And then the doctor turns his attention to the group. "Woah!" Kasumi lets out a yell as the doctor casts Mudoon, just barely dodging it. Oh no. Oh, no, no, no. "Um! I'm weak to dark! I really don't want to die...!"

Kazusa opts to try and talk them down, and Kasumi readies to back her up. Ready to cast her own light magic to hopefully cut the doctor off.

</poem>
MONAD: Kasumi Yoshizawa has acted with Proficiency toward Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder! Base!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
It did work out well enough, didn't it? Belle really is a kind person, Mona reflects.

"Nagisa-'san'? Not Nagisa-'kun'?" Mona usually doesn't bother with suffixes, but that doesn't mean he's unaware of them and what they imply. Sure enough, Kazusa later explains another epiphany she's had about ''Yanagi'' and ''Shinichi'' Nagisa. Mona doesn't know who this Yanagi person is, but if she's connected to this Atelier... and if she seemed to die... He looks around at the dingy, gloomy hospital corridors. "I get it. It's not just the Mikage-cho Incident. He's got trauma about that girl dying, too--and he blames himself for it."

Who wouldn't, if they seemed to die right after you said something horrible to them? (Kazusa didn't specify that much, but Mona can read between the lines.) In fact... Mona considers the general vibe of the Atelier. Even if a lot of this is due to the Homunculus messing things up, and it's definitely not the same as a Palace, it's still a cognitive world, and Mona's got lots of experience with those. If all this reflects a part of Shinichi--if Umie's right and he's conflating those incidents together--then...

"He thinks he's a monster," he concludes.

...Though it's definitely true that a normal person usually wouldn't remember an experience like this. Clearly he does, though. Mona tucks that thought away for later.

However the others take this, they all head up to the third floor. There's a creepy-looking Melanc there, bemoaning indifferently about how overworked he is while murdering a nurse. Mona's about to take it on, but Kazusa hisses she's going to try to talk it down. Considering it's about to turn a Mudoon on all of ''them'', maybe she's got the right idea--especially if Belle's weak to Dark. Mona shoots her an alarmed look before stepping forward next to Kazusa and Umie, in front of Belle.

"You know you need a break, but you're going to work yourself to death anyway? What's even the point, then? Who's going to see after all these 'dying patients' if ''you'' kick the bucket?" he chimes in. "Go and take your break already. Maybe pet a cat and soothe your nerves. They've got therapy animals in hospitals, right?"

(He doesn't want to imagine what the therapy animals in ''this'' hospital would be like, though. Mona might not ''be'' a cat, according to him, but he still cherishes them.)
</poem>

MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Kitty Talk toward Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder! Amrita!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== Before the Apathy of the World, I Shudder - Round 5 ===================-
Ren Amamiya Charm Failure
Kitty Talk Amrita Fatigue: 2 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kasumi Yoshizawa Proficiency Failure
Proficiency Base Fatigue: 2 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umie Akabane Charm Success
Cheeky Gremlin Talk Focus and Find Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Proficiency Failure
Proficiency Base Fatigue: 3 Morale: 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kazusa Motojima Charm Failure
Demon Queen Patra and Efficient Fatigue: 3 Morale: 5
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Annoying-2, Boss-0, Clumsy-1, Ineptitude-2, and
Terrifying-1
Final Conditions: Ineptitude-1
-================================================= Party Result: Failure ====-
-==== Reach: 4/6 |==== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 2, Gear: 2
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

(|============= Monad - Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho ==============|)
-==== Round 6 - Challenge Level 1 ===========================================-
| Card: While Suffering Abounds, I Force Myself To Rest |
| Approach Options: None |
| Conditions: Passage - Completion. |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

The fight against the Melanc Humor was fierce, but eventually, it falls. But
as it does, part of the Shadow seems to persist, a name badge which states
'Dr. Chihara' on the back of which is a barcode.

While Door 302 looms ahead, there's a badge reader for 'Physician's Break
Room' Nearby and maybe a break is in fact warranted. Within are coolers of
ice cream, numerous instances of convenience store food, a cappucino
machine.

And more importantly a talking closet-!?

"Heyyyyyyy~"

Oh wait no, it's just Trish.

"Now just where are you gonna fence all those goodies, if not with me? Come
on, let's talk business... that Cappuccino Maker and those Freezers over
there for starters."

All of the food in here are perishable cognitive healing items, but with
enough haggling, Trish will FINALLY fork over some Skill Cards in exchange
for the whole haul, and a book of discount tickets for her spring.

"You bastards are gonna put me in the poor house, cheating me like this! I
hope you all die!'

Unfortunately, the discount tickets are only for a 2.5% discount, one use
per visit. Still, you have time to at least heal up and refresh yourselves
before the battle ahead.

What's behind that door ahead is certainly nothing good.

"Please come again~ But bring a fat wallet with you next time!"

But somehow you think whatever is behind that door though is less scary than
what you faced behind this one.

OOC Note: This set of Skill Cards can be used to justify a Tier 2 Card Set
of your Choosing! And a very minor discount at Trish's Spring.

Super, super minor.

Final Loot: 4 boxes of Money and 2 Pieces of Gear!
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.1 ====|)

MONAD: Kazusa Motojima rolls for Loot from Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho! It may include: Gear: Alchemy Armor,
Gear: Horror Accessory, Money: Cash, Money: Horror Art, or Moneymoney: Death!
MONAD: Kazusa Motojima rolls for Loot from Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho! It may include: Gear: Alchemy Weapon,
Gear: Death Armor, Money: Alchemy Art, Money: Cash, or Money: Death Art!
MONAD: Kasumi Yoshizawa rolls for Loot from Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho! It may include: Gear: Alchemy Weapon,
Money: Cash, or Money: Death Gems!
MONAD: Umie Akabane rolls for Loot from Shinichi's Atelier: Cinvat Mikage-Cho! It may include: Gear: Alchemy Armor,
Money: Alchemy Art, Money: Alchemy Gems, or Money: Cash!

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah. I'm still not sure ''what'' was going on in that place," Kazusa says of Hana's Kingdom.

It's fair if Umie had doubts. Kazusa hasn't always been the most reliable. (And still has some pretty bad day, as it turns out.) But she's trying.

Usually, they do forget. "... maybe it sticks around in the subconscious somehow, or something..." But they are, in fact, related. "... yeah. Maybe so."

(Kazusa wasn't trying to be mean to Mona earlier by noting her own healing magic--just to take stock of their capabilities.)

Kazusa nods to Belle. "Yeah. She works at Peacock Silk. She has her own plan for dealing with the Homunculus, but I'm not sure what it is." (This will also help explain for Mona.) To Mona, though. "... he's in my class butr we're not particularly close."

Kazusa doesn't specify, but Mona guesses the punchline anyway. "... yeah," says Kazusa quietly. "You're... probably right. And the Homunculus is turning that against him, too."

("I'm strong against Dark," Kazusa comments quietly to Belle. "So I'll go in first.")

Kazusa and Mona try to talk the Melanc down, but it's not exactly effective. Belle's light and Roger's racket are both sorely needed here as a brutal battle breaks out, with Kazusa finally calling Mina Harker out.

But even as they battle, Umie's words keep working, and eventually she proves enough of a distraction that they're able to put it down.

Whereupon it takes the form of a doctor, and they gain access to a barcoded badge. "There's a card reader this way," Kazusa says, when she picks it up. The door is straight ahead, but... they need to recover after one too many close calls.

And right when they're trying to rest their weary bones they get to deal with ''Trish''. At least they get some skill cards and some (very very monir) discount coupons for Trish's Spring.

Kazusa looks through the skill cards. "... some of these could be useful..." She'll share them around, but she's pocketing a few for herself.

But as they rest, she can only hope that their efforts will help forestall the Homunculus' takeover.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-19: Taken

2026-09-25T20:42:16Z

Talnora: Miyu has a very particular set of skills...

*'''Log: TAken'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Miho Ijuuin]], [[Remi Ryuuja]], [[Tsubasa Seki]], [[Jun Kashihara]], [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Yukari Takeba]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Tamaki Uchida]]
*'''Where:''' Yumezaki - Main
*'''OOC Date:''' September 19, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Saturday, January 12, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''The NWO is at it again, seeking to secure another Joker, this time a Company President. The Persona Users, of course, respond to stop them--but sadly this time the NWO prevails.''

----

(|============================= Yumezaki - Main ==============================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Yumezaki Ward ====-
With a name that means "Dream Peninsula," it's no wonder that the glitziest part
of the city is Yumezaki. All kinds of fun and exciting business can be found
here, up to and including a game center (or is it a casino?) called Mu
Continent, where rumor has it one can potentially win big at slots, bingo,
poker, or blackjack. Pachinko Silver is right next door if one wants one's
gambling activities to be a little more subtle.

Across from Mu Continent, there's Club Zodiac, a techno dance club where the
boots are always bumping--but rumor has it the back is a maze that will lead you
to some very dangerous places... To be specific, supposedly it was bought out by
the Taiwanese mafia and is now their hideout. It's best not to pay too much mind
to those kinds of tales, though--or else.

The ward also includes a robust multi-story music store and an impressive gym.
Oddly, the music store, NOT the gym, is called Giga Macho. The gym, which is
bright, clean, and amply furnished with all kinds of equipment, is called GOLD.
Nearby, the shopping street, Yumezaki Center, invites spendthrifts and window
shoppers alike to browse its indoor and outdoor stores.

BGM: Map I - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0B_2vwPcxc
AS: Remi Ryuuja has readied for combat as La Maupin! She is now fully healed!
AS: Tsubasa Seki has readied for combat as Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah! They are now fully healed!

AS: Umie Akabane has readied for combat as Badb! She is now fully healed!
AS: Yukari Takeba has readied for combat as Io! She is now fully healed!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu has readied for combat as Lachesis! She is now fully healed!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki has readied for combat as Achilles! He is now fully healed!
AS: Jun Kashihara has readied for combat as Argeiphontes! He is now fully healed!
AS: Tsubasa Seki has readied for combat as Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah! They are now fully healed!
AS: Tamaki Uchida has readied for combat as Arianrhod! She is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
The President's Office is a place few go without reason. ...Fewer today; there's something ''off'' about that office right now. It might be the dim lighting despite the fact that the President of the company is in; it might be... the way he's laughing, as he reads through reports.

Abrubtly, the secretary, sitting at her desk, receives a message. Beep.

"Yes, sir?"

"Have the office meet in Room 3-B. heehee. I have an announcement to make."

"...A-all right, sir."

Soon, a meeting room full of senior and junior executives sees a strange man come in--the President, pale as a sheet.

"I know--hee-hee--there's been some ''questions'' as to how I got my position... I know you're wondering. I know you know what I did. The last President... hee-hee."

"Um, sir...?" ventures one, seeing the President so pale. The President looks up--but he doesn't have any eyes.

"But it doesn't matter!! Heeheeheehee... YOUR LIVES BELONG TO ME!"

The screams start.

-=-=-

A woman in gray armor and a mask stalks through the doors. The security man rises from his seat. "Y-you!?"

"I'm a specialist," she says. "I can solve your little problem." Pause. "...Run. Run far."

"A-aaaaaah!" The security guard does just that.

-=-=-

The sense of ''wrongness'' that is the Joker may be enough to draw the attention of those who would save one; if not, the suddenly ''crash'' of a window high above and the screaming fall of an executive might do it, though trying to save the man before untimely gravity catches up with him is going to be a near thing, and may delay entry.

From above, the laughter comes: the laughter of the Joker.

On the bright side, the elevators are working.

-=-=-

Here, the top floor: desks are overturned, a water cooler's contents spilling out like lifeblood into the carpet. People are scattered across the floor: some are living, hiding behind pieces of desk and scattered debris; some are in pieces, bodies left in horror. Only three are standing: a Joker in a a fine black suit and tie, and he wobbles on his feet. "Heeeheeeheee.... You can't run from FATE!"

BGM: Angelic Creation, Namely, Light - Utena OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DuigWJ5y9E

"Nor do I plan to." One of the others remaining is the Groom, Miyu, and her sword is pointed directly at the Joker. The other is Tsurugi. Both NWO operatives have their weapons trained on the enemy...

But it is Miyu who lunges forward next, Faust her Persona rising from her as she does, and ''pierces'' through the Joker's shoulder with her blade.

"Raaaaaaghh!"

"Tsurugi!" Miyu calls. "The syringe!"

It's over. The Joker falls after Miyu drags her blade out of his shoulder, and falls down onto his side, ranting vaguely until he goes silent.

...Unless someone has something to say about it, that's all there is.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
The last person standing in the wreckage of the office is a woman in an all black fencing suit, with a matching black fencing mask, rapier in hand and an Evoker on her thigh.

Tsurugi.

"Acknowledged!" Miyu lunges and calls-- Tsurugi darts past Miyu, pulling the syringe from a hip pouch and jabbing it into the Joker's neck. She slowly presses plunger down until the syringe empties, then stows the spent syringe.

"He's secured."

Tsurugi sheaths her own blade. "... let us be away with him quickly."

She's just finished fighting a Joker. Perhaps this is an ideal time to take her on.
</poem>

AS: Miho Ijuuin has readied for combat as Faust! She is now fully healed! Ready for 4 opponents!
AS: Remi Ryuuja has readied for combat as La Maupin! She is now fully healed! Ready for 3 opponents!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"HOLD UP!"

OST Interrupt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-xJV9aHzIw Tom Morello - Everything Burns

That's the voice that joins one of the remaining windows SHATTERING, as -- from the outside of the building! -- a mysterious Phantom Thief finishes scaling the facade to force their way in from outside. Blazing orange feather cloak fluttering behind them, its hood, with feathers flecking back to mark eye ridges, leads down to a dark grey witch's-hat mask obscuring Phoenix's face.

Beneath that loud display of feathers are muted grey ninja's robes, sarashi wraps around their wrists, ankles, and waist. They wear ninja tabi, and their gloves are the one other splash of colour to them, showing more of that distinctive orange. It is a colour without rhyme, stubborn to rhythm, and so, too, does Phoenix show more of the ''brutality'' of theft -- the sudden, shocking ''smash and grab.''

They charge Miyu like the bull in the china shop, a greatsword large as ''they'' are screaming sparks against the ground as they lunge forward, foot planting before her, to haul their momentum forward in a hefty diagonal slash to force her back.

"WHERE'D YA TAKE HER, CREEP?!"

Of course they're worried about the man Tsurugi is detaining, too -- but they see Miyu, and that means they're seeing red.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>
Jun is indeed detained for a time. Seeing a man break a window and fall very, very far, and knowing it's due to a Joker Killer, he feels morally obligated to save his life. Lives should be saved regardless, of course, but Jun feels ''personally'' responsible for it.

Niko accused him of refusing to see reality or take responsibility for his part in things. Jun quite disagrees, and this is his way of proving it.

He'll summon Argeiphontes to create a vortex of wind to catch the falling man, slowing his descent enough that Shinobu, likewise arriving on site, can catch him and make sure he has a soft landing. (The wind magic could slow him enough that he'd survive, but if he's already injured or in shock, falling on concrete--even survivably--surely wouldn't help.)

Jun will take a moment to check in on the fallen man and the one who caught him. Once they confirm he's alive and stable and probably passed out from shock, Jun gives Shinobu a firm nod. "Thank you. Now let's hurry."

Good thing indeed that the elevators are working. The two will catch up with the others in short order that way. It already looks like someone else has crashed ''in'' through the window, and Jun can imagine it'll get even more chaotic soon.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Hyousuke perked up like a hunting hound the second that he felt it. There was something in the air that turned his stomach, sending bile creeping to the surface while his gut twisted itself into knots. He felt as though there was an itch beneath his flesh, set deep into his very bones, striking down to his very core. he looked to his wardrobe, but then away again. Again, there was no time for the armour. Taking his weapons out of hiding took enough time, and even with the aid of Mementos, closing in on the Mark's location took far too long for his liking.

He barely noticed if anything was in his way. He moved on instinct, bludgeoning aside whoever or whatever was in his way, and darting around anything that he couldn't. His boots hit the floor in a thunderous cacophony, his breath came out as ragged snarls, and his eyes burnt with an intensity that could have set the world ablaze. He would not stop, and he would not fail. Not this time. No matter what happened, he was committed to making certain that whoever the enemy sent, they would lay broken at his feet, forced to relish the failure they'd earnt.

Growling, snarling, and *raging,* Hyousuke kicked the door wide open with cry of effort, then stormed into the room with his short-barrelled scattergun clutched in one white-knuckled hand.
"Phoenix! You deal with that one, I'll hold this asshole off!" He called out to them, not looking to them, but very clearly addressing them. "And you!" He called out to Tsurugi, "I'm gonna make sure you pay for everything you've done. Only way you're leaving this place is if I drag you outta here! ACHILLES! SHIELDS UP!" The deafening screeching and groaning of a bronze colossus heaving itself into existence tore through the air, and that red-eyed monster took his place behind Hyousuke.
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Tsubasa Seki has used the Slash skill Greatsword Charge on Miho Ijuuin!
| Aggression: Tsubasa Seki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 97 Slash damage from Tsubasa Seki's Greatsword Charge. Critical Hit! Resist!
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Invincible General on Shinobu Shimizu, Tamaki Uchida, and
Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Invincible General.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
It's a Saturday, her Horoscope was ''great''. Pleasant weather. She's coming back from an afternoon doing some Archery Practice- followed by Window Shopping at Paulownia Mall to get started on her homework- ''well'' in advance of when it'd be due.

"Maybe tonight will be the-" As she thinks on her Horoscope again, with a smile and a sudden wistfulness that takes her off guard until a feeling alerts her to the fact she's been staring off into space, not walking, for a while now, "-whoa hey. Earth to me. Why am I day-dreaming on the platform of the train station? I hope no one saw that..."

But, sadly, it's more than just daydreaming. Because the sensation in the air crackles like static.

A sensation like a distant siren, growing closer in that doppler effect.

"Not... ''now''. Oh come on- nobody is even with me right now."

Again she has a choice. But given how Yukari Takeba fundamentally operates... perhaps it's less of a choice than she'd like.

She says the words into a bathroom mirror with only a ''hint'' of resentment.

-=-=-

Unfortunately, in order to reach the top floor of this pandemonium, Yukari Takeba has to take what she now thinks of as the 'Cherry' Approach.

Aka - She has to dash up the stairwell, up several stories, taking a few moments to double over and catch her breath, before bursting out of the fire escape door.

That's the same moment that Phoenix bursts through the window, and she lets out a shriek of alarm, "Ah-AHHH!" Shielding herself with an arm and half-crouching with eyes closed before she dares to peek and- "What the- that's so dangerous! You could have really hurt someone!"

Straightening herself up, she wipes some bits of glass off her cardigan, before brandishing her Evoker as she looks upon the Groom and Tsurugi and more importantly- their Joker. "Another one?" It sounds like a groan as she addresses the pair, "Can't you all take a weekend off from doing ''something'' horrible? You'd think you'd at least take some time off for that poor woman's maternity leave!"

Do evil secret organizations even HAVE maternity leave? That thought crosses Yukari's mind as she puts a gun to it, and pulls the trigger.

Io appears, lifting her arms as energy surrounds the Groom, trying to sap the speed right out of her.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Almighty skill Sukunda on Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Invincible General.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Invincible General.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Almighty damage from Yukari Takeba's Sukunda.
| Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>From a certain office building in Yumezaki Ward, there's a sudden, ominous sensation. It's a familiar sense of wrongness that Shinobu can feel deep in her core.

The Joker Curse has taken another victim... and that means ''they're'' bound to be on their way, too.

If they're not already there.

That thought speeds Shinobu on her way - and the sign of how poorly things are going is evident in the way a man ''crashes'' through one of the upper windows.

"''Shit''!" Shinobu curses. She draws her staff, picking up speed. But, she isn't sure she'll make it in time...!

And then, a vortex of wind whirls to life underneath the man. His fall slows - and Shinobu immediately takes advantage of it. She plants her staff into the ground, using her momentum to leap and ''fling'' herself toward him, catching him out of the air. She lands, and sets him down gently.

...Fortunately, he's alive, at least. Shinobu exhales, looking back toward the unexpected help.

"Kashihara... Thanks." Shinobu offers with a nod. "Let's get up there. Sounds like they might need some help."

Shinobu to the elevator. ...But, the destination is the ''very'' top floor - so by the time she gets there, the Joker Cursed-president has already been sedated... and a battle has already begun to break out.

There's Miyu, and Tsurugi... It's the latter she puts her eyes on. Fighting again so soon after they fight alongside each other...

This is what she hates the most about her. It'd be a lot easier if she could just uncomplicatedly put a fist in her masked face, but she has to make that difficult by ''helping''.

"Tsurugi!" Shinobu challenges. "The hell're you ''doing''? Tryin' to drag another person off to who knows where?"

She doesn't launch into an attack right away - but Achilles' support means that she won't be ''defenseless''. She sends Hyousuke a grateful nod.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Whereever the Joker manifests, the world aligns, as if it were a tide pulled by the moon. The same likely would have happened if Umie had used the Mark's powers, she reasons, if the cognitive spaces weren't already aligned.

Here, with stairs to climb, Umie's just thankful she's within range for her Persona's boons to be accessible here. Sure, she could use the elevator, but that sounds like a death trap.

....... on second thought....

She presses the elevator button, then looks over her shoulder as someone approaches.

-=-=-

*ding*

How odd. The elevator is empty, when the doors open. Just.... Tamaki Uchida!

There's no sign of a young woman in a white oversized jacket, leggings, red and black checkboard half-mask, and red sneakers. There is nothing important here at all, just a concept of a blackbird, something temporary that is easy to overlook.

(There's a second one elevator. It'll be fine, right?)

The next time there's an Umie Akabane (or a Mitsuhide, as Tamaki would call her), she's taking advantage of Phoenix's attack in a pincer manuveur, with that bifurcated blade drawn from a sleeve.

One sneaker used a tipped over chair to launch herself up, the second on a desk.

Now sailing, the 155 cm young woman attempts to land on Miho's back, attempting to lash two slashes against Miho's back.

All this preperation, and Umie *still* forgot this wouldn't work on the Groom.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Slash skill Red Feast on Miho Ijuuin! 2 Hits!
AS: Block Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 36 Slash damage from Umie Akabane's Red Feast. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 55 Slash damage from Umie Akabane's Red Feast. Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki was simply trying to enjoy a nice day of window-shopping nearby until she feels the telltale 'wrongness' of someone having turned into a Joker. On most other days, she mixes business and pleasure, treating jobs to ascertain rumors or tail targets of her clients as outings for herself, something to give her a plausible excuse to be in the area, but today? Today was supposed to be just for her, dammit! She gives one of the shopkeepers a wan smile, politely says, "Ahaha, excuse me," then rushes off in a hurry.

It doesn't take her long to find out she's in the right place when she catches sight of Jun and Argeiphontes saving a falling man. Tamaki tries to flag him and Shinobu down as she attempts to catch up to them, yelling, "Hey! Hey you! Hold the elevator for a second!" ... which she immediately backtracks given the urgency of the situation and waves them on ahead. " -- wait wait wait nevermind, just go up, I'll get the next one!"

And so she agitatedly waits in front of the elevators, feeling like an idiot for the extra few seconds it takes for the second one to arrive. "C'monnnnn, c'mon c'mon c'mon." She already ran all this way to the building, she's not going to spend more of her stamina going up the stairs. At least she (seemingly!) has this one entirely to herself.

Tamaki doesn't announce her presence or do any boasting as she emerges. While she has bones to pick with both Miyu and Tsurugi, Tsurugi got the better of her most recently. Right out of the gate, when Tamaki invokes her "Persona," Arianrhod channels all of Tamaki's vindictive pettiness into another chant, set of conflicting geases and wards which Tsurugi may find familiar, given their previous encounter.

Having now revealed herself, Tamaki adjusts her jacket and clears her throat before speaking up with a calm "Hello." ... which is immediately undercut as she double-takes at Umie on Miyu's back, completely unaware of their shared ride up the elevator. "( -- Mitsuhide?!)"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Almighty skill Threefold Tynghedau on Remi Ryuuja!
| Tamaki Uchida takes 45 damage from Stress!
| Ruin: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Almighty damage from Tamaki Uchida's Threefold Tynghedau.
| Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!), Pain (Attacker takes damage on healing and PL 0 attacks!), and Poison
(Damage on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
It will definitely get more chaotic, Jun.

The window SHATTERS, and Miyu turns towards the sound. She ''darts'' to the side to avoid that huge blade, in a lunge that takes a great deal of energy--her focus is briefly shot as her mind rebels against this monstrous sword--no, the reminder of that woman...

Miyu does not show it. "To a laboratory," Miho says. "I do not know where she was taken from there." Her voice is calm as she has the presence of mind to ''hack'' at Phoenix's side as they pass by her, an exhausting malaise infusing her blade.

"The Jokers will be important subjects of study." Umie comes, too, the cncept of a crow attempting ninja action of her own. As it happens, Umie will find one thing out first: Miyu is ''strong'' enough that landing on her back does not bowl her over. The two slashes hack against her armor, and the first strikes blood--the second hacks through fabric. ...Neither do quite as much damage as they ought before Miyu forcibly stands up straight, pushing Umie back.

Jun isn't here yet; Jun doesn't get an assault. Instead, Miyu brings a hand to her chest and calms herself with the force of her own resolve.

Then--

She is slowed by Io's power. and Yukari asks about--

"No," Miyu says simply. "For her leave, I work more. That's how it works."

Then she points at Yukari. "Faust," she directs, and Faust lifts a gloved hand, emerging from the red mist--to inflict a concentration-busting ''joy'' on Umie, as if happiness itself were suddenly here to stay. Then, Fasut points at Yukari, and seeks to silence her magic.

Finally, Faust turns on Miyu--and heals her.

"The more I can shield the Bride, the more I will."

"...I could tell you about this man.. But it doesn't matter, does it? The wages of his sins do not merit death, whatever they are. Isn't that your philosophy?"
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Miho Ijuuin has used the Slash skill Blade of Joka on Tsubasa Seki! 2 Hits!
| Defense: Miho Ijuuin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Miho Ijuuin spends Limit on Salve! Panic removed from Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Almighty skill Mafui on Yukari Takeba!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Almighty skill Hapirma on Umie Akabane!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Recovery skill Dia on Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Take! Miho Ijuuin takes 134 Recovery healing from Miho Ijuuin's Dia.
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Almighty damage from Miho Ijuuin's Mafui.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hapirma.
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) and Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Tsurugi is expecting resistance, certainly. That's just kind of how these things ''go'', after all. Still, her head whips around as Phoenix comes bursting in through the window. "Miyu!" In an instant, her Evoker is in her hand. "La Maupin!"

Her Persona rises again in glass and flame, chipped rapier in hand. A moment later, Tsurugi has her sword in hand.

'I'm gonna make sure you pay for everything you've done!' "''There'' it is," Tsurugi mutters to herself as she whirls around to face Hyousuke. Louder, "The baying of a rabid dog. You may try, but we ''will'' leave with our prize."

Yukari invokes the Bride and her maternity leave. "... hah. Be assured, we have every concern for her in mind." Yet she says that with mostly the same stoicism as always.

It's not a picnic for Tsurugi either, Shinobu. But of course, Tsurugi can't exactly ''explain'' herself...

Are they dragging another prson off? "Yes. A wretched man who invoked a rumor to attain a promotion. Would you defend him?"

Tsurugi is, of course, keeping an eye on the ''elevators'' now, given the number of Persona Users that have shown up. But she still can't keep predict the attack from Tamaki's Persona, staggering as, in her exhausted state, she can't shake off that three-fold curse as easily. She steems to grow unsteady on her feet for a moment, hand to her head.

Then she scowls and shakles it off, drawing her main gacuhe from her back. "No matter. You will not deter me!"

"La Maupin! Bring swift winds!" Winds whirl up around Tsurugi's feet to help her move faster. "Now, attack!"

La Maupin rushes forward, lunging themself at Shinobu and Hyousuke in a whirling flurry of blade strikes, and when Tsurugi gestures, La Maupin looses a burst of wind to attack Tamaki by the elevator.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Recovery skill Masukukaja on Remi Ryuuja!
| Remi Ryuuja takes 90 damage from Pain!

AS: Charm results in party damage! Remi Ryuuja takes 90 damage!
AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Recovery healing from Remi Ryuuja's Masukukaja.
| Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Slash skill Gale Slash on Shinobu Shimizu and Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Wind skill Garula on Tamaki Uchida!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 95 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Garula. Critical Hit!
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Salve! Pain removed from Remi Ryuuja!
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Salve! Charm removed from Remi Ryuuja!
AS: Block Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 37 Slash damage from Remi Ryuuja's Gale Slash.
AS: Block Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 58 Slash damage from Remi Ryuuja's Gale Slash.

<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>
"Indeed," Jun says to Shinobu, and the two hurry up as fast as an elevator will let them go. As the doors are closing, he hears Tamaki's voice and turns around with widened eyes; however, both of them realize it's too late, and she waves them on. The last Tamaki will see of Jun is a firm nod.

Shinobu's ahead of him out of said elevator; as someone who deals primarily in healing and magic, it's only sensible to let someone else take point. Jun thus takes a moment to take in the scene: Tsurugi and Miyu, and an insensate Joker Cursed, already drugged and primed for kidnapping. Jun's eyes narrow as his fists clench.

Miyu speaks of taking on Yumi's burdens for herself, the Groom working harder so the Bride need not. Jun half-turns towards Yukari and sees Phoenix taking on Miyu while Hyousuke and Tamaki fight Tsurugi. He gives Shinobu a brief nod, then hurries over to join the Groom side of the battle, where Umie is ninja-striking.

"Phoenix, please allow me to assist you," Jun announces, raising the wild rose in his hand. It's the least he can do after they came to help rescue him from Sudou. He turns a cold gaze on the Groom. So Tsubasa's mother has been sent to a laboratory to get experimented on. "Is that your way of telling us to give up on these victims of the Joker Curse?"

Is that Joker Cursed a good person? Maybe not, from what Tsurugi says. However: "Dragging people off to be experimented on is wrong, regardless of how wretched they may be! Argeiphontes!"

Usually Jun opens with a defensive move to increase others' ability to dodge. However, given who's in ''this'' group, it seems rather more sensible to enhance their combat capability instead. Argeiphontes arises in a coruscating column of light, and dances brilliantly to charge up the critical strength of Umie, Phoenix, Yukari, and Jun himself.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Jun Kashihara has used the Recovery skill Bright Revel on Jun Kashihara, Tsubasa Seki, Umie Akabane, and
Yukari Takeba!
| Support: Jun Kashihara gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Jun Kashihara takes 0 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Counter Neutral! Tsubasa Seki takes 79 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Blade of Joka.
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 51 Slash damage in return for her attack! Resist!

AS: Counter Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 156 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Blade of Joka. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 57 Slash damage in return for her attack! Resist!

AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"Cope!" Phoenix snaps, when Yukari chastises them for their dramatic entrance. "It's about ''sendin' a message!''"

Meanwhile, Hyousuke assures them he'll handle Tsurugi, and they bark: "Tight!"

And -- "Yo, Uchida-san!" Phoenix calls, to the woman they have ''not'' told the truth to, so sadly they ''can't'' tell her they found something fishy in those EOY reports they pulled to sift through this weekend. It's fine, ''Tsubasa'' will tell her, later. "This dragon lady kidnapped Tsubasa's mother! Fuck her up!"

Did they forget to give themself an honourific? Eh, it's fine. That's probably not suspicious.

Miyu says she took her to a ''laboratory,'' though, and Phoenix snarls: "So it ain't no mental ward?! I fuckin' knew it! What are you freaks doin' to her?!" They respond to violence with violence, instinctively, as their sword flashes out to meet Miho's sabre -- only to find her expertly routing their overwhelming power to one side and burying her blade into their outer thigh.

If Phoenix knew more about anatomy, they'd realise a point like ''that'' was more aimed to collapse them and get them out of the fight than to ''kill'' them -- neatly avoiding the vital arteries of the ''inner'' thighs -- but they're not their brother, man. All ''they'' know is: "OW, FUCK!"

They do kind of sag to one side -- but they ''don't'' collapse, the way they would have if they weren't wearing that feather cloak and mask, and part of that is the way Jun's Persona wraps strength around their bones to keep them fierce. "Tch... what, swords ain't gon' work? Hey, fuck you, lady! I'll jus' light ya up! IZBUSHKA NA KUR'IH NOZHKAH!"

Oh, how soon we forget the visions of our Oracles...

Without that foresight, the massive chicken legs of Phoenix's Persona manifest in the building, the ''top'' half of the chicken hut phasing ''through'' the roof, as those little hatch wings flap like wings. Around it is a ring of skulls and spines, like a fence or a skirt, and the eyes of those skulls glow in unison as beams of flame erupt towards Miyu--!

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tsubasa Seki has used the Fire skill Wildfire on Miho Ijuuin! 2 Hits!
| Tsubasa Seki takes 45 damage from Stress!
| Aggression: Tsubasa Seki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 37 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Wildfire. Resist!
AS: Block Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 68 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Wildfire. Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
'Cope!' Yeah that gets her back up. 'It's about ''sendin' a message!''' "Is the message that you watch way too much anime?" She asks, drily.

Before the Groom and Tsurugi reveal where the Jokers are going- "So they're just ''test subjects'' to you? That's so messed up!" Yukari replies to the Groom on the Jokers, aghast that that is their plan. After all, she has no idea about the Kirijo Group's experiments- the true depths of them that is.

"So she ''isn't'' here?" There's seeming relief at that point, "At least your group has that much decency." She mutters, not entirely impressed by the low bar that seems to have been set.

A seal descends upon Yukari, trying to silence her magic, just as Argeiphontes' magic empowers her Persona, in a strange contrast of being so powerful- but having her magic silenced.

And so- she reacts the only way she knows how when someone tries to silence her.

The Evoker trigger pull might as well be reactionary, as Io appears, and proceeds to- rather than cast magic?

The fey like girl upon it opens her palm and swishes through the air in an arc, as visible power manifests to try and slam into the Groom with an abandon that almost feels like she enjoyed that.

And in the moment the Persona disappears, Yukari is behind it, having taken a knee as she looses an arrow aimed at the Groom's left calf.

"I don't care what he's done." Yukari says coldly, "Whatever it may be- it doesn't give you the right to decide to take him to some ''lab'' for him to die in some twisted experiment!"

How did she surmise he'd die? Well- the Groom basically said as much, in asking the question.

And she can only think of her Father, as she says that much. Would they think he deserves death, for what he did?

"Thanks for assist!" She tells Jun as she gets up and tries to retreat back a few paces, "I'll have your back as well, Kashihara-san! Count on it!"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Pierce skill Cruel Attack on Miho Ijuuin!
| Yukari Takeba takes 90 damage from Panic!

AS: Yukari Takeba cancels 1 attacks on Miho Ijuuin.
AS: Yukari Takeba spends Limit on Exploit! Yukari Takeba can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Pierce skill Cruel Attack on Miho Ijuuin!
| Yukari Takeba takes 90 damage from Panic!

AS: Weapon! Yukari Takeba has used the Pierce skill Please Hit! on Miho Ijuuin! 2 Hits!
AS: Block Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 95 Pierce damage from Yukari Takeba's Cruel Attack. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 76 Pierce damage from Yukari Takeba's Please Hit!.
AS: Block Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 53 Pierce damage from Yukari Takeba's Please Hit!.
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>People began flooding in. People he recognised. He spared them only a quick glance, knowing better than to take his eyes off of the enemy before him, but Hyousuke lingered for a moment or two longer on Umie. She was with them again, and fighting on their side... but with her came the risk of what happened the last time. There was no time to address it. There was a fight happening, and others came to fight Tsurugi as well. His focus had to be on his own battle, at least for now.

"Why the hell are you trying to talk with her?" Hyousuke spat, making no attempt to hide his vitriol towards Tsurugi. "They're not gonna let up! Only way to get to that Joker is through these assholes!" Tamaki arrived after, and drew a short glance from him. He offered no greeting, but he saw her attack land, and grinned a little with secondhand satisfaction. "Uchida-san, nice shot!"

His was the rabid howl of a mad dog. That much was unavoidable. But that dog still had its fangs, and the hound before her had every intention of using them.
"Not again. Not like last time." He snarled, just barely managing to hold his anger back enough to speak clearly - though his teeth were still clenched so tight that it felt as though they would grind right through each other. "You don't get to keep taking from us!" Hyousuke rushed forwards, not stopping for anything - not even as a blade struck out to meet him.

It came too quick and from too close for Achilles to block it, so all he could do was brace for the impact. He felt the sting of metal ripping through his flesh, carving a bloody trench into his side, and a grunt of pain poured out of his mouth like red from the wound. But momentum, determination, and rage-fuelled adrenaline kept him moving forward, too fast and too forceful to stop, even if he wanted to. It only took a heartbeat for that baying dog to be within arm's reach, and Hyousuke made sure to make the most of it.

Achilles levelled his blade at Tsurugi, but did not strike with it. It was a declaration of war. Of his utter, unceasing, wrath, and how his foe would be subsumed. Hyousuke took a far more direct approach and heaved his fist at Tsurugi. Wreathed in black energy, his left struck out in a lightning-quick jab. His right lashed out as his left pulled in, and the rush ended with him rising his knee up in a short, sharp, and forceful crash.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Almighty skill Raging Rush on Remi Ryuuja!
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Pummelling Rush on Remi Ryuuja! 2 Hits!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "Sorry for using you, Uchida-san," Umie apologizes, from Miho's back.

Bowling Miho over was not in Umie's cards, thankfully, but that doesn't necessarily help with the surprise component being offset by Miyu's strength and will.

Thus, it doesn't take that much to push Umie back off

"Translation: for her Bride's sake, she'll sacrifice all these people to the Order's goals, on the possibility that it *might* help her." Umie gets up, pulling her hood back over two messy blonde buns, as she looks to Yukari. "That's what all of this is about. Every Joker Possessed person is on their list."

'The wages of his sins do not merit death, whatever they are. Isn't that your philosophy?'

Umie can't help it, for some reason: she's cackling. "Who do you think you are, a Phantom Thief?" Umie chides, through a snicker. "Trying to justify it yet again..." Will Jun still keep to his plan, knowing all this?

She notices Jun finally; she tries her best to calm herself, pinning her left wrist over her mouth, right where the good luck charm rests under the fabric of her turtleneck and coat. "Ha ha... sorry, but I'm not planning on messing up this time. You're not going anywhere!"

With a snap of Umie's fingers, Badb appears over one shoulder, red lips spreading wide in a decadent smile as she points a red laced claw in Miho's direction.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Bad Moon Rising on Miho Ijuuin!
| Umie Akabane takes 135 damage from Panic and Stress!
| Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Bad Moon Rising .
| Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) added! 60 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Tamaki tries to flag them down - but changes her mind.

"Right. We'll be right up, Uchida. If you get there first, give 'em a good one for us." Shinobu encourages with a nod.

...And by the time Shinobu gets there, it looks like she has. Shinobu sends her an approving nod. Jun gets a nod too as he moves to engage the Groom, before she looks back toward Tsurugi.

"Well, yeah, he's pretty obviously a piece of shit, so I'm not ''happy'' about it... Maybe he even deserves it." Shinobu allows. He's a rich company man, after all, at least from what she can tell. She doesn't know his life story - but it's easy to make assumptions. That doesn't mean they're correct either, but... "...But that don't mean I can just ''pick and choose''. You think that makes it ''right'' to let you do whatever the hell it is you do with them? Make 'em disappear and do who knows what?"

She hears Phoenix's frustration, and the clinical answer... Test subjects...

La Maupin surges to being at Tsurugi's call, and they lunge at her with their blade. Shinobu raises her staff to deflect it. It slides across the surface of the weapon, grazing her shoulder.

"...Fine, I know how this goes. There's only one thing we both understand, right?" Shinobu replies with a grimace. She lunges forward, jabbing her staff rapidly toward Tsurugi's midsection.
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Jab Flurry on Remi Ryuuja! 3 Hits!
| Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Almighty damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Raging Rush.
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) and Crt_Dn (Critical down!) added!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 26 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Pummelling Rush.
AS: Counter Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 88 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Pummelling Rush.
| COUNTER! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 41 Slash damage in return for his attack!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Maybe there's something to coming in loud instead of quiet. It might have kept Tamaki on her toes better than trying to project an image of calmness. Instead, she tries to sidestep so the blast doesn't send her ''back'' into the now-closing elevator, she directs Arianrhod to intercept the gale for her. Ultimately, she ends up getting slammed into the wall by her own Persona -- which shatters in a Persona Break right after. "Ow! Oooogh ..."

As Tamaki unsteadily rises to her feet again, she nods to Shinobu and Hyousuke. Her attention turns to Tsurugi and the protective gale around her. Last time, she had overextended herself and spent her resources too early; there's a reason she took the elevator instead of the stairs. With herself and these two allies, she figures that despite she really still should play the long game this time around, even if it had put her in a disadvantageous position just moments ago.

She scowls at the news of Tsubasa's mother getting kidnapped and calls back to Phoenix, "Will do!" Really, Tamaki doesn't even bat an eye the dropped honorific here; it's an urgent situation where milliseconds matter! It'd garner an eyebrow-raise in a more polite and social context, but, well, lives are on the line. She lightly laughs in Umie's direction and quietly waves the matter off; she would have done the same in her shoes.

Hyousuke says to not talk with her ... which Tamaki blithely ignores. In response to Tsurugi's question about if they'd defend a man who had spread a Rumor for a promotion, Tamaki lets her eyes wander before she quietly admits, "I mean, I've defended people who have done worse things. It doesn't make what they did right." She jerks her thumbs in Shinobu's and Hyousuke's directions and gives Tsurugi a grin. "Hell, if it came to it, I'd defend you from them. -- no offense, you two."

Rather than deny miracles as she had done for years prior, Tamaki has since realized that she has to fight for the world she wants to see, to exceed the fervor and dedication which Miyu and Tsurugi strive to achieve theirs.

"Buuuut, the kid has a point right now." Tamaki shakes her head and shrugs. "I think you and I want the same world, but we've got different ways of going about it." She calls out to Shinobu and Hyousuke, "Now, it's your turn to pay back the favor and give her a good one for me! Arianrhod!" Her own Persona reappears, then holds her blade aloft to bathe Tamaki, Shinobu, and Hyousuke in warm light, providing complementary offense to Achilles' shield.

</poem>
AS: Tamaki Uchida spends Limit on Exploit! Tamaki Uchida can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Per Aspera on Tamaki Uchida, Shinobu Shimizu, and Hyousuke
Suzuki!
| Tamaki Uchida takes 45 damage from Stress!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Media on Tamaki Uchida, Shinobu Shimizu, and Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 130 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Media.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 151 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Media.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 29 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 64 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 29 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"Do as you like," Miyu says to Jun. "...But I would not count on finding her intact."

But it is Wrong. Jun opens up with a combat-enhancing move, and Miyu narrows her eyes to see it done. "Yes," she agrees. "But you, who holds destiny in your hands, should know better than any that morality is not the only way by which to judge."

It isn't a mental ward, Tsubasa. "I don't know," Miyu says simply. "Research is not my forte. ...Now where would you get the idea that it was a 'mental ward'?" she wonders.

Indeed--Miyu has no desire to kill Tsubasa here. They trade strokes of the sword, and Miyu comes out the winner. "The blade is in my blood," Miyu says simply to Phoenix then. "While those who live by the sword may die by the sword... In my case it is not the esiest way."

Nor, as it happens, is fire; Faust emerges over Miyu's head, and Miyu simply ''blocks'' the flames with an outstretched hand, fire licking across her limbs before it goes out.

"Your Persona is strong. But your rage does you no credit in battle. Fury is warranted...but it may yet be your undoing."

A look to Yukari. "They are fuel. Yes, it is 'messed up'."

Yukari lets loose arrows and her Persona; power manifests, and while Miyu is able to block that force, it still forces her backward on her heels. Then, the arrows loose--

One arrow sticks in her armor; the other cuts, drawing more blood.

"I need no 'right' on my side to do what I must," Miyu says to Yukari. "I stain my hands with blood for a purpose. ...A purpose that means more to me than any of you."

"I will conquer whatever of this world of illusion that I must."

Helpfully, Umie explains. "Correct," Miyu says. "And no, she is not here. I intend to spare her further battles."

The Omen hangs over her, then. "I am no Phantom," Miyu clarifies for Umie. "I need justify nothing but the strength of my sword arm. You should realize, Umie Akabane... In this world, and the last."

"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose."

She ''lunges'' for Umie then, hacking with one, two, three blows of her dragon-empowered blade.

She ''leaps'' back then, somersaulting backward to land on the ruin of a desk. "You..."

"The keeper of destiny," she remarks to Jun. "The crow who may yet foretell the return of the True World," she says to Umie. "And the heroine who would see life come of death,' to Yukari. "And then... you. I know you not, Phoenix. I never met you in that world."

"Now..." Miyu turns her attention on Phoenix. "Was it flame? Let me show you how it is done." Miho snaps up her sword--and Faust appears in red mist. "Persona!"

Blue lights begin to shine around Umie and Tsubasa, ghostly cerulean flames which then ''burst'' with a buzzing into a humming that explodes in azure nuclear fire, blackening what remains of carpet and ''exploding'' through to destroy part of the ceiling and much of the debris around them.

"This world could belong to you," she says to Jun. "...But not while I oppose you!" Faust's sickle-sharp blades ''hack'' down, and shockwaves of slashing force erupt towards Jun--even as the darkness suffusing Faust's form surges towards Miyu as she swings a cursed blade once, twice, three times for Yukari!
</poem>

AS: Miho Ijuuin spends Limit on Exploit! Miho Ijuuin can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Weapon! Miho Ijuuin has used the Slash skill Sabre Aggression on Umie Akabane! 3 Hits!
| Defense: Miho Ijuuin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Fire skill Hellfire on Tsubasa Seki and Umie Akabane! 3 Hits!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Slash skill Fatal End on Jun Kashihara!
AS: Tandem! Miho Ijuuin has used the Dark skill Unholy Wrath on Yukari Takeba! 3 Hits!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Recovery skill Line Guard on Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Take! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Recovery healing from Miho Ijuuin's Line Guard.
| Phys_Safety applied!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Yukari Takeba takes 67 Dark damage from Miho Ijuuin's Unholy Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yukari Takeba takes 119 Dark damage from Miho Ijuuin's Unholy Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yukari Takeba takes 98 Dark damage from Miho Ijuuin's Unholy Wrath.
AS: Avoid Best! Jun Kashihara takes 17 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Fatal End.
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 136 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Media.

AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 19 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Sabre Aggression.
| Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 33 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Sabre Aggression. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 33 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Sabre Aggression. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 12 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 10 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 46 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire.
AS: stormbrand does not match an attack in the databse.
AS: Counter Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 149 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire. Critical Hit! Weak!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 48 Slash damage in return for her attack! Resist!

AS: Counter Neutral! Tsubasa Seki takes 125 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire. Critical Hit! Weak!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 63 Slash damage in return for her attack! Resist!
| Tsubasa Seki is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Counter Neutral! Tsubasa Seki takes 125 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire. Critical Hit! Weak!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 63 Slash damage in return for her attack! Resist!
| Tsubasa Seki is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>
Ironically, Jun knows exactly how and where Phoenix got the idea that Etsuko Seki ended up in a mental ward. (Well, he knows the story Tsubasa told him, and so believes that's the story Phoenix heard as well. Close enough.) He's not going to volunteer that information to Miyu, though.

Instead, she gives some to him, by calling him the keeper of destiny.

"..."

Would it make a difference if Jun reminded the Groom he has no recollection of whatever his "destiny" was on the Other Side? No, he quickly decides. Even if it did, he doesn't want to go into it.

"There are other ways to judge than morality, certainly," he replies instead. "Very well then--let us dispense with 'right' and 'wrong.' You kidnapped my dear friend's mother and have consigned her to Hell." After all, Jun believes the Groom when she says Etsuko probably isn't going to survive intact. "Do not think I'll simply shrug that off!"

Maybe Tsurugi and the Groom will understand and accept ''vengeance'' as a motivation for stopping the two of them better. Certainly that puts him on the same wavelength as Phoenix, apparently, similarly raging on Tsubasa's behalf.

"Still, I would ask you," Jun continues. "I don't want to hear about the Other Side, so don't bother with that part. However--how is it that you're able to remember?"

What does she have in common with Tatsuya Suou? What makes either of them similar to, and different from, Tatsuya Su''dou''? That much, Jun still wants to know.

Jun remains on the other side of the room from Groom, even as she moves swiftly across it, and so he has time to react to her long-range slashing attacks by whirling in a dance-like maneuver takes him out of the direct path of that attack. (Indeed, it's based on a dance move a certain instructor taught him.) It's not ''easy'' to do, and it leaves him a little winded, but he's better off by far than if he'd gotten a direct hit.

"I'm satisfied with being the 'little prince' I am now. Indeed, I pity Jun Kurosu, that he was so miserable he thought only the world could sate his needs!" he retorts.

...and never mind that, at the very least, he had--has--Tatsuya's love. Jun knows well one can't have everything.

Yukari offers her support back to Jun, and he gives her a quick nod and smile. "Thank you, Takeba-san. It seems we're still getting pressured, though."

'Seems,' nothing--Phoenix gets thoroughly rocked by the Groom's fire attacks. Jun gasps, eyes widening behind his curtain of bangs. Yukari's magic has been sealed, so-- "Takeba-san! Can you get them back on their feet?! I'll restore your magic!" He concentrates to summon Argeiphontes anew, and a burst of cleansing air ripples through this side of the battle, brushing away the ailments that plague not only Yukari but Umie, too--as well as Phoenix, once they're back in action.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Jun Kashihara has used the Recovery skill Amrita on Tsubasa Seki, Umie Akabane, and Yukari Takeba!
| Support: Jun Kashihara gains 1 Limit!

AS: Jun Kashihara spends Limit on Shift! Yukari Takeba can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Yukari Takeba! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Amrita.
| Panic removed!

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Jun insists taht their actions are wrong, no matter whom the victim is they're kidnapping. "Perhaps. But you cannot dissuade us in our task."

Yukari calls their efforts messed up. "So says the hound of Kirijo," Tsurugi retorts coldly. Of course, 'hound' is the same kind of language she also uses to refer to herself.

... It's probably nothing. Just another item for the kinkspiracy board.

"Bark all you want," she says to Hyousuke. "We will do as we must. The hound must catch the rabbit for its sustenance."She does not flinch as aChilles levels that blade. Hyousuke comes for a rush of blows and Tsurugi dodges out of the first two, but her attempt to counter for a third blow ends up with her taking the worse of the exchange, staggering back and clutching her stomach. "So vicious..." A hollow laugh. "... I almost felt that."

She straightens herself up and looks to Shinobu. "... what ''I'' think is hardly a factor. I can only do as I am told. Or be brought to heel."

Rather than try to counter Shinobu, Tsurugi opts to deflect and sidestep the blows from her staff--one still makes an impact, slamming into her shoulder and making her arm drop by her side for a moment before she can force it up. "... yes. This is the one thing we both understand."

Whatever the man did doesn't make it right, but he'd still defend them... or her, if it came down to it. Tsurugi tilts her head. "... is that so? You may wish to reconsider that commitment. You will not be able to keep it."

"If you wish to stop me--you will have to overcome ''my'' determination! La Maupin!" For some reason, she never used her Persona's name... not until Eriko identified it in Akihabara.

Wonder why?

But there's no time to contemplate that as she makes a sweeping gesture. "Push them back!" La Maupingestures, and from their hand another wind erupts to try and push the would-be saviors back. And while they're dealing with that...

"Loading Skill Cartridge," she announces. A cartridge is slipped from her pouch and into her Evoker, which she lifts from her head. "Fire Break!"

Energy surges into La Maupin, and they gesture with that renewed strength, trying to drain Tsurugi's opponents of their protection to fire...

... and in the next moment Tsurugi and La Maupin touch their swords together, and an incindiary flame ''erupts'' down the blades, overflowing to splash on the ground around them.

The two charge forward in tandem, lashing out in an intricate, deadly dance of whirling fire as they move through the group.

If Jun wishes to consign them to Hell, Tsurugi will call upon its flames.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Wind skill Magaru on Hyousuke Suzuki, Tamaki Uchida, and Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Broad!
AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Almighty skill Fire Break on Tamaki Uchida, Shinobu Shimizu, and Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Tandem! Remi Ryuuja has used the Fire skill Scorching Wrath on Tamaki Uchida, Shinobu Shimizu, and Hyousuke Suzuki!
3 Hits!
| Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Best! Tamaki Uchida takes 4 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Magaru.
AS: Avoid Worst! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Fire Break.
| Fire_Break (Fire Affinity Down!) added!

AS: Block Best! Tamaki Uchida takes 1 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Tamaki Uchida takes 1 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Tamaki Uchida takes 62 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 66 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Magaru. Weak!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Fire Break.
| Fire_Break (Fire Affinity Down!) added!

AS: Block Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath.
AS: Block Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 49 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 16 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Shinobu Shimizu takes 4 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Magaru.
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!

AS: Block Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Fire Break.
| Fire_Break (Fire Affinity Down!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Shinobu Shimizu takes 45 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath.
AS: Block Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 25 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Shinobu Shimizu takes 57 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
'So says the hound of Kirijo,'

"What does that have to do with anything? I'm not doing this because I like the Kirijo Group or anything!"

Indeed, it's true, but she's not about to tell anyone why she does this in the middle of a fight, least of all her.

"World of Illusion? What are you on about...? You're sounding just like ''that'' guy." She replies in a mixture of anger and confusion, "What kind of ''purpose'' requires you to cart people off to be experiments in a lab?"

Yet the things she says next, on who they all are- the words hit her in the face. "Stop it." Sure she says things that could let someone extrapolate that, but- that feels like it's more intimate, more on the nose. And fear bubbles forth out of her like a spring.

"Stop acting like you know anything about us... stop acting like none of this ''matters'' so long as you get what you want! All of this is real! These are real lives you're ruining!"

Jun's a really nice guy, honestly, one of the nice guys she's ever met, she just can't see how he relates to all of this, how the world hinges upon him as she says. Coming down from it, saying.

"No kidd-" Her words are interrupted by Miho's assault. "-ing?" That cursed blade tears across her Persona, once, twice- cleaving Io in twain, as she shatters into luminescent shards.

Right before the third comes down and knocks her away with a gasp that steals the shriek from her breath. Sent sprawling on the ground, she reaches out to grasp her Evoker.

"I can."

Jun lifts the seal on her magic, with that powerful spell. She feels its weight in her hand, and puts it to her forehead.

"/I can." She confirms again to Jun, before addressing Miho, "I-I won't let you ruin this one."

The trigger is pulled. It gets easier every time. A far cry from that panting panic attack alone on the floor of her room. Io reforms again, and this time the Persona dips towards Phoenix's fallen form.

A column of scintillating light forms, surrounding them and then rising, healing them just enough to get them back on their feet.

And then more besides, as a healing breeze floods the room from the ruptured glass of the windows, crossing over each of them in turn.

"Get on your feet already. We're nowhere near done here yet!" She grouses Phoenix's way.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Recovery skill Naiad's Recarm on Tsubasa Seki!
| Support: Yukari Takeba gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Recovery skill Media on Yukari Takeba, Tsubasa Seki, Umie Akabane, and Hyousuke
Suzuki!
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 138 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Media.
AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Amrita.
| Blast, Exhaust, and Panic removed!

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 138 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Media.
AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 285 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad's Recarm.
AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Recovery healing from Jun Kashihara's Amrita.
| Exhaust removed!

AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 150 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Media.

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"AW, COME ON!!!!" Phoenix yowlps, as not even Izbushka's ''flames'' scour Miyu deeply. Indeed, ''they'' might have taken more psychic damage than ''Miyu'' did from that first spark...

Yukari asks if they watch too much anime, and they grouse: "Anime's ''cool!''"

Then again, putting ''people'' in a ''lab'' is pretty anime, too... hey, shut up!!

"What th' fuck kinda creep does ''experiments'' on ''people?!'' Where's ya ethics approval, fuck!" They snap, on the heels of Yukari's offence, which is -- well, the kind of protest one would expect from someone who's read a few academic articles in their life. "Rrrh... look, I get someone bein' important to ya, but you're goin' way too far! I don't fuckin' care if someone's tellin' ya to do it, either!" They're listening to Tsurugi, too, apparently. "You oughta tell 'em to stick it up their ass, or you're as bad as 'em!"

(Tsubasa, as it happens, has been quite curious about Tamaki's college work, in that cool, disaffected, not-really-bothered way teenagers who are too cool to put the work in are like.)

But Miyu wonders where they ''got'' that idea, and Phoenix shifts back a step in alarm before they bark: "Tsubasa told me all 'bout what their asshole father said after you pulled that shit! That's ''his'' story!" ... they're not as smart about keeping quiet as Jun is, huh?

Her advice is surprisingly sound... but the only sound Phoenix needs, right now, is ''their volume sliders up to eleven.'' "Then I'll jus' get more mad 'til it works! Fuck!"

But she's raving, in Phoenix's eyes, about that ''world of illusion...'' a world they're not part of, huh? "Great!" They snap. "As if I'd wanna be part of any sick-ass world you'd use people like guinea pigs to get at!" Unfortunately, Miyu's paying attention to them again, now, and --

"FUCK YOU!"

-- in that split second between self-preservation and other-annihilation, it's no choice at all; Phoenix fears flame, and that just urges them all the more fiercely to charge ''into'' it, to swing their sword heavily through that burning assault and strike back at their attacker. They whirl in the flames, striking at her in revolution, once, twice, three times -- before that nuclear flame forces them to a knee.

"Fuck... you..." They repeat, again, breath laboured. "... fuck..." ... they might not have stood up to try another swing, if not for Io's light, enabled by Argeiphontes' solution, shimmering down upon them.

"... huh... yeah, I ain't done yet!" They snarl, as they pick themself up, with a solid ''stomp'' despite the ache in their leg. "Thanks, Takeba-san... you too, J, Kashihara-kun!" Right, right, ''Phoenix'' isn't close enough to him to use his first name...

"So me sword don't work, and me skulls don't work... you think that's all I got?!" Phoenix demands, as they sweep their cloak back, tucking their greatsword into it -- improbably, it fits -- and take out A FUCKING ROCKET LAUNCHER.

"EAT ROCKET LAUNCHER!" Phoenix yells, as they load in one of their precious few shells, and fire it ''straight'' at Miyu.

</poem>
AS: Tsubasa Seki spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Weapon! Tsubasa Seki has used the Pierce skill Rocket Launcher on Miho Ijuuin!
| Aggression: Tsubasa Seki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 188 Pierce damage from Tsubasa Seki's Rocket Launcher. Safety! Physical damage
reduced!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 159 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Media.

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Another blow - a counter - swung into Hyousuke, and carved into him another scarlet line. He could feel the pain streaking up his arm from where the blade had sunk its edge, the end so dangerously close to his neck, and the warmth of blood oozing from it followed not long after. But he grit his teeth, and powered past it. It was far from the worst pain he had received, and he would suffer any agony if it meant that he could inflict twice as much of it back on his enemies.
"This dog bites back." He said, his throat rumbling as he growled back a retort.

Tamaki's retort - given in spite of his assertion that there was no use in maintaining a dialogue - gave even that raging beast a moment's pause, however, while her encouragement stoked the fires of his... 'enthusiasm'... once more.
"I don't know what kinda world she's looking for..." He confessed to Tamaki, voice lowered and settling just enough that he could speak without sounding like he was on the verge of howling. "...But if it means she's hurting OUR people, and OUR world, then it ain't worth it! Damn right I'm gonna give her a good one!" Empowered by her Persona's spells, and with his wounds closing in a shower of light, the could be little doubt that he intended to make good on his word.

Tsurugi went on the offensive before he had the chance. She and her Persona moved with such skill and speed that it was all Hyousuke could do to follow the action, let alone react to it. Calling Achilles to the fore and making that war-scarred bronze titan take the hit was more a reflexive action than a conscious decision, and its imprecision cost him. Biting winds surged around his shield, biting into flesh and sweeping him off his feet, despite every effort he made to resist. It felt like knives carving apart his meat as a hammer beat the air from his lungs, but that alone was not the end of it.

Blade and flame alike ripped through him, any resistance to it stripped away before he even knew to react. Where once a man had stood, there was only fire, roaring with such ferocity as to drown out Hyousuke howling in pain. His form could be seen past the blaze, vague and silhouetted in the searing light, and it writhed in agony. Yet, he stood. He took it all. He forced his singed muscles to work how he wanted them to, and as the last of the flames died, Hyousuke looked back at her with a rage that burnt harder than anything she'd levelled at him.
"Tch..." He spat, before wiping blood and sweat from his mouth. "...Almost felt that."

Suddenly, there was a flash of light in the corner of his eye. He wouldn't have looked that way - not under normal circumstances - but a familiar voice drew him there on instinct.
"PHONEIX!" He called out, a hair's breadth from desperately calling out their true name, and even closer to abandoning his own fight to shield Tsubasa. With his Persona, his magic, his own body if it came down to it - anything to keep his friend safe long enough to get them back on their feet. But Yukari took a far more level-headed approach than he, and once more, his wounds began to fade, the pain dulling as the magic set in. "Thanks for the assist!" He called out to her, sparing a glance out of gratitude, but no more out of fear that he'd leave himself vulnerable. "And you... You're gonna pay for that! Achilles, now!"

Healed of his hurts, but not of his hatred, Hyousuke heaved his focus back to Tsurugi. But he did not surge forth. Achillese did. A solid wall of bronze streaked from behind him, quicker than a blink, shield raised and spear at the ready. Then, with a cacophonous noise that sounded like some unholy union between screeching metal and a bellowing soldier, Achilles struck down at Tsurugi with the spear's keen tip.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Avenging Spear on Remi Ryuuja!
| Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Favor!

AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 1 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Avenging Spear.

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> '"What th' fuck kinda creep does ''experiments'' on ''people?!'' Where's ya ethics approval, fuck!'
'What kind of ''purpose'' requires you to cart people off to be experiments in a lab?'
"The same that chucks little girls before wolves in hopes that they'll get a carnival prize for their trouble," Umie mumbles, none too loudly, but still audible.

'You should realize, Umie Akabane... In this world, and the last. It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose.' Before Umie can have the last word, Miyu strikes; whatever words she may have had are refocused towards survival, as blade and, later, flame, are brought to sate the Badb's appetite for violence and pain.
(... As well as dunk the very squishy, normal, non-pain-loving Umie Akabane underneath the Badb's cover.)

Crow feathers spark as some of the blows are taken by the Badb, but not fully; Umie knows that her Persona being taken out, as well as it getting a direct hit for her, would be a pain of another kind, and not one she can endure. It's a balance between keeping light and nimble on your feet and soaking in the parts you can't, as the Groom's size speaks little of just how fast she can be with the blade, or how hot her rage burns.

"Phoenix-san..." Umie grits her teeth, seeing Phoenix fall to fire. Ironic, considering what her friend went through...
That's not how a Persona works, exactly, however.

'The crow who may yet foretell the return of the True World...'

"Oh, that old man will be forced to eat crow, alright..." Umie grouses as she straightens, wincing. She quiets on any other sharp words she may want to say, as Jun asks that question.

She looks towards Jun, and gives him a pleased blackbird's smile at his words. Yukari's simple response, however, wipes that smile off her face with how raw it feels. "Takeba-san," she continues, focusing her attention on the other of the two keeping her and Tsubasa more or less alive, "there's files on all of us. But that doesn't mean..."

No, Yukari already knows what what's important. Umie grins, turning now to Phoenix. "Phoenix, how about you make like your namesake... and take back what she took from your friend," she encourages the Phantom Thief.

... Like with Yukari, Phoenix has already come to the conclusion they needed, seeing as they are already beginning to get up and begin their assault. ("... So that's what it's like from this direction," she mumbles, eyes wide, as Phoenix shoots that rocket launcher.)

"As for me," Umie says, building on the battle plan between Jun and Yukari, "if you want a prophecy, Miyu-san... Give me a moment. But you better listen really close, because it'll be just - for - you~"

Badb echoes Umie's pointed index finger, casting a a simple bit of charm towards the Groom, as if to enhance that mocking, lilting tone of Umie's.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Almighty skill Hooded Smile on Miho Ijuuin!
| Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"None taken." Shinobu assures with a shrug, as Tamaki says she'd defend Tsurugi even from her and Hyousuke, if the situation was different. "If it came down to ''that'', things probably got really screwed up somewhere."

Tamaki calls upon her Persona, and Shinobu finds herself bathed in warm light. Her shoulder wound heals - and she finds herself invigorated.

Tsurugi claims that what she thinks is haardly a factor. Shinobu shrugs.

"...Yeah. I get it. You're not doing this because you want to. ...But you're still ''doing'' it. So I'm not gonna ease up on you or anything." She replies.

But Tsurugi speaks of determination - and Shinobu frowns. She doesn't get much time to reply - because a flurry of wind pushes her back, buying Tsurugi space. Energy washes over Shinobu - and the air in the room suddenly feels unpleasantly hot, as she finds herself less resistant to heat. And then Tsurugi and La Maupin touch blades and charge forward.

Shinobu grits her teeth, raising her staff, meeting each stroke of the blazing blades with a parry. Each strike forces her back, and each strike intensifies the heat.

"You wanna talk 'determination'... But you're just following another's commands! You said it yourself - what you think doesn't matter!" Shinobu bites back. "If that's what it takes to stop you... then I'll just smash yours with mine!"

She feels energized by Tamaki's support - so she draws upon it now.

"Lachesis! Light her up!" Shinobu calls out. Lachesis appears behind her, holding her measuring rod level as she centers Tsurugi within her hands.

Heavenly light rains down upon Tsurugi - and then Shinobu and her Persona both race forward. Shinobu readies her staff and Lachesis her measuring rod, and they both swing at Tsurugi simultaneously.

"Uchida! You're up!" Shinobu calls out.
</poem>

AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Exploit! Shinobu Shimizu can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Light skill Nirvana on Remi Ryuuja! 3 Hits!
AS: Tandem! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Split Decision on Remi Ryuuja! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!

AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Shift! Tamaki Uchida can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Tamaki Uchida! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Almighty damage from Umie Akabane's Hooded Smile.
AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 20 Light damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Nirvana. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 57 Light damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Nirvana. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 47 Light damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Nirvana.
AS: Avoid Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 69 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Split Decision.
AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 1 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Split Decision. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
At Tsurugi's insistence that Tamaki won't be able to keep her commitment, she lets her eyes drift upwards as she reconsiders. She plaintively smiles as she replies, "... you know, I ''am'' currently 0 for 3 in that regard, so you might have a point. I'm still going to hold to what I said, though."

La Maupin. There's something about that Persona which pulls at Tamaki's mind, perhaps made even more prominent because it was Eriko who had pointed it out in the first place. In this moment, the fact flickers through her mind, but her mind's too occupied with other things to give it any further thought right now.

Things such as another gust of wind and a series of fiery slashes coming her way! Tamaki feels ''ready'' this time and has Hyousuke's tactics to thank for it; she stands her ground against the wind, and Arianrhod steps in to parry the first two swings. Emboldened by how her fortunes seem to have been turning, Tamaki starts to retort, "Your determination? Challenge acce -- " just as the third catches Arianrhod in the side and cuts her off as she winces.

Phoenix, true to their name, falls and rises again. As Phoenix's rocket launcher blast lands and does significant damage to Miyu even behind her barrier, Tamaki takes a quick moment to grit her teeth and shudder in realization at an alternative series of events one night when the Phantom Thief had visited her at her employer's office. ... and another to be relieved that they're not down for the count.

Shinobu's response is what jogs Tamaki's memory of La Maupin again. "... Ohhh, but there's some part of your authentic self struggling to break free, isn't there? I don't think we've seen the extent of your determination yet."

"Let's draw it out of you! Arianrhod!" In a flash, Tamaki's Persona steps forward and quickly strikes with her broadsword which shimmers in an iridescent glow, then plunges her blade into the ground to cause a bright fountain of light to erupt from beneath Tsurugi and her Persona.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Slash skill Glittering Blade on Remi Ryuuja!
| Ruin: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Light skill Sealing Hama on Remi Ryuuja!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 16 Slash damage from Tamaki Uchida's Glittering Blade. Resist!
| Rage (Weapon Attack and Incoming Damage Up!) added!

AS: Nerve Up! Remi Ryuuja's SP +8!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 103 Light damage from Tamaki Uchida's Sealing Hama.
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added! Rage removed! Explosion! 22.5 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Jun counters with vengeance--and Miyu inclines her head sharply. "Very well. Then let us see the measure of your ire."

But he asks--and he doesn't want to hear about the Other Side... only how she remembers.

"I see the True World in my dreams," she says. "I have had these dreams since I was a child. Since my youth I have known of the world where I was with my Bride, and we lived and fought together. And my dreams have never failed to prove accurate to 'that' world."

He's satisfied... "That boy was pitiable," Miyu agrees with Jun. "But powerful. You would not seek such power, to take your venegance? To protect your friends?"

She says nothing to Tsurugi, for now. Tsurugi has her own battle; Miyu has this one.

She sounds like 'that guy', Yukari says. "Of course. He saw the truth," Miyu says. "It was his methods that were ineffective, not his Sight. Bloodshed and chaos will not return that world to us alone--we could not cause enough of it to destabilize 'reality'."

"...Indeed. LIves are real. Whatever has cast this illusion over the world, it is ''quite'' potent. Regardless... I do know. I have fought you many a time in that world, Takeba-san."

"I... and her."

Yukari won't let her ruin it...

"Perhaps you won't."

Phoenix, too, has things to say. "Nowhere is too far for her. She is my destiny. ...No matter what shape our bond takes... it is unbreakable."

'Fuck you', they say. And then--

"..."

"...They did not use rocket launchers in the True World," Miyu comments as she organizes her defense. The field of physical energy she bplace before herself is one thing--Faust emerging before her is a second.

The barrier ''shatters'' under the Rocket Launcher's power, and Miyu and Faust are both driven back by the ensuing explosion, thrown into the far wall.

...But alive.

"The old man?" Miyu wonders of Umie then. "Which one? There are many. Any would be suitable."

"I will not," Miyu says them to Umie, ''slashing'' the charm out of the air before it can touch her and leaving it broken on the ground before her.

Then, of all things to happen... her phone rings. Miyu steps back, adopting a defensive stance, and touches the comm on her ear--this tone, she will always answer.

But what she hears--

Her free hand's fist uncurls immediately; she recoils backward, as if struck. "No," she intones, and the others may hear a quick breath.

BGM INTERRUPT: Shadow - Persona 2 Innocent Sin OST https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD0qWek2m7c

Heartbeat. Heartbeat. Heartbeat. It grows louder and louder until everyone present can hear the beating of Miyu's heart, pounding in their ears. And then--

Shadowy afterimages trail Miyu's sword as she rises to a fighting stance again, and that sense of wrongness grows, pervading the area. No demons appear this time--only Miyu. "...I can no longer afford to spend my time here," she says, but her voice echoes strangely, as if two voices in one. And the voices that they are bring with them an emotion, an absolute ''terror'' that may well suffocate the heart.

"Faust! I CALL!"

Red light shimmers all around her--and there are four of her, suddenly, breaching forward with an absolute flurry of strikes for each combatant assailing her, the first three suffused with Faust's unholy wrath, the last 'merely' of superlative skill.

No, though--there are ''five'', becasue the true Miyu kneels down to heft the unconscious Cursed Joker over her shoulder.

There is power, in love.

...There is heart. There is hope. And yes, there is also... fear.

The fear of loss; attachment. Hatred, hositlity: aversion. And the certainty of one's beliefs... delusion.

As these poisons seep into the heart, the Groom rises to her feet. "Tsurugi," she directs. "We go."

In a flash of black unlight, they are gone.
</poem>

AS: Miho Ijuuin spends Limit on Blood!
AS: Miho Ijuuin spends Limit on Broad!
AS: Miho Ijuuin spends Limit on Exploit! Miho Ijuuin can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Weapon! Miho Ijuuin has used the Slash skill Dragon Clash on Umie Akabane, Tsubasa Seki, Yukari Takeba, and Jun
Kashihara! 3 Hits!
| Defense: Miho Ijuuin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Miho Ijuuin has used the Slash skill Inexorable on Umie Akabane, Tsubasa Seki, Yukari Takeba, and
Jun Kashihara! 3 Hits!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Jun Kashihara takes 81 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Jun Kashihara takes 136 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Jun Kashihara takes 58 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash.
AS: Avoid Worst! Jun Kashihara takes 126 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Jun Kashihara takes 75 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Jun Kashihara takes 75 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
| Jun Kashihara is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 69 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 88 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash.
AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 88 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 63 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 22 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 22 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
AS: Yukari Takeba spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yukari Takeba takes 127 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Yukari Takeba takes 71 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yukari Takeba takes 91 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash.
AS: Avoid Worst! Yukari Takeba takes 153 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable. Critical Hit!
| Yukari Takeba is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid Best! Yukari Takeba takes 29 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable. Critical Hit!
| Yukari Takeba is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid Worst! Yukari Takeba takes 153 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable. Critical Hit!
| Yukari Takeba is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Yukari isn't doing it because she lkes the Kirijo Group or anything. "Of course not." It's not like ''she'' enjoys her work for the NWO, either.

Tsubasa's protest about ''ethics'' gets a bitter laugh from Tsurugi. "You think the men who hold my leash care for ''ethics''? That they obey the ''law''? Don't be so naïve!"

"... there is only one way to deny them. And I have survived too much to give up now!"

"Pain is a luxury that lets you know you're alive!" Tsurugi retorts to Hyousuke. At the return of her line, Tsurugi chuckles darkly. "Careful. You know not of what you speak."

Shinobu doesn't take offense. "... you speak as if that has not happened already." And likewise, Shinobu won't ease up on her. "... good. I cannot yield, so neither must you."

Tamaki's still going to hold to waht she saidaa. "... You may try. But my survival is incompatible with your other goals." But when Tamaki suggests there is some part of her authentic self still struggling to break free...

Tsurugi is silent for a long moment. "... more than you can know."

Tsurugi once again stands still as as Achilles charges forward, staring the Persona down. Behind the mask her gaze intensifies. When that collosal spear comes crashing down there is a terrifying crack in the floor, as paper and shards of wood, plastic, and metal go flying.

But Tsurugi isn't there. She's suddenly a few feet back, perched on the edge of a desk. But there's a subtle heave of her chest that speaks of the effort it took to hal herself back fast enough to avoid the blow.

And the onslaught doens't stop there. Heavenly light comes, and Tsurugi grabs a nearby ream of paper to throw it in the air where it explodes--the first hit scores cleanly despite that, but under the cover she dances back and away from the other lights--

Right in time for Lachesis and Shinobu to come at her in tandem. Tsurugi starts to move, but Shinobu's staff hits her square in the quest. There's a pained wheeze as Tsurugi staggers back, though she doesn't clutch at her chest. When Lachesis comes to follow up it's La Maupin who steps forward instead to deflect the blow away. "... your determination is fierce," she acknowledges.

Tamaki seeks to draw out Tsurugi's determination with Arianrhod. A blade slash comes for her, but Tsurugi deflects it as she steps aside, getting ready to go on the offensive--but the burst of light beneath her catches her, and though she can leap out after a moment, she's panting harshly as she comes up from a roll into a kneel. "... a worthy effort."

But she turns her head as she notices Miyu step back into a defensive stance. A hand to an ear... and a pounding heartbeat. "Miyu," she says firmly. "''Focus''."

Miyu's scared. She may be the one issuing ordres, but Tsurugi has to keep the mission on track for as long as possible. She reaches into her pouch again and pulls out a second cartridge.

Whatever is bad enough to fill Miyu with such fear... Tsurugi doesn't seem to feel it. "La Maupin," she intones as she raies her Evoker to her head once more. "Tempête Fatale!"

She pulls the trigger and a fresh wave of power surges through La Maupin. The Persona steps forward, chipped blade gleaming--with a lighting flash blur of motion La Maupin zips among Shinobu, Hyousuke, and Tamaki, lashing out at each with a single swipe of the blade, landing on the far side of them.

And in the next beat those slashes all ''explode'' into an explosion of winds that kick up debris and flings it all over the thoroughly-ruined office.

And in that moment, Tsurugi herself darts over to Miyu and vanishes with her.
</poem>

AS: Counter Neutral! Tsubasa Seki takes 79 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash.
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 46 Slash damage in return for her attack! Resist!

AS: Counter Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 143 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 48 Slash damage in return for her attack! Resist!

AS: Counter Neutral! Tsubasa Seki takes 110 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Dragon Clash. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 64 Slash damage in return for her attack! Resist!

AS: Counter Best! Tsubasa Seki takes 103 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 114 Slash damage in return for her attack!

AS: Counter Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 131 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 58 Slash damage in return for her attack!
| Tsubasa Seki is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Counter Best! Tsubasa Seki takes 103 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Miho Ijuuin takes 114 Slash damage in return for her attack!
| Tsubasa Seki is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Break!
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Exploit! Remi Ryuuja can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Remi Ryuuja has used the Wind skill Tempête Fatale on Hyousuke Suzuki, Shinobu Shimizu, and Tamaki
Uchida! 2 Hits!
| Remi Ryuuja takes 90 damage from Exhaust!
| Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 56 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. Critical Hit!
AS: Nemesis! Shinobu Shimizu can take another Weak action this round!
AS: Block Best! Shinobu Shimizu takes 8 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 50 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Nemesis! Hyousuke Suzuki can take another Weak action this round!
AS: Remi Ryuuja's turn has ended. It's time for an All-Out Attack!
| Remi Ryuuja: Break and Spd_Up removed!

AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 99 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. Critical Hit! Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>
It ''is'' great for Phoenix that the Groom never met them on the Other Side. Jun has never had a good experience with an enemy knowing a version of him that no longer exists, and so much the better for anyone who can be spared that.

Personality really does play a lot into things, though. Jun and Phoenix are both very learned and book intelligent, and Phoenix demonstrates that by asking about the NWO's ethics approval, but also demonstrates that they're too brash and hotheaded to hold back either on their feelings ''or'' information the enemy probably should not hear.

Still, it's been heard. Jun chooses to brush past it as if it were a normal thing to know--and it's normal enough for Tsubasa's friends to know it, isn't it?--and instead says, "You're welcome, Phoenix! Leave the support to us!" He smiles too at Yukari, whose healing magic is at a level of mastery he must admire. The two of them really should talk sometime; he's sure he could learn much from her.

...He does note how Phoenix almost addressed him as 'Jun,' though, and decides he really doesn't want to know what that's about. He instead gives Umie a worried glance at her just-audible muttering. Her blackbird smile... is not as reassuring as one might like.

Also not reassuring: the Groom says she knows about the Other Side from her dreams. To Jun, this sounds little removed from the distortions fed to Sudou by his demonically divine patron, and the curl of Jun's lip expresses what he thinks of this.

"Sudou-san died being deceived by the 'Voices' that whispered promises to him of a glorious Other Side," he says coldly. "Take care you aren't being deceived yourself, Groom."

Would he not seek power for vengeance, to protect his friends? Jun's lip curls further. "Why don't I sacrifice an eye for wisdom while I'm at it? It worked for Odin, so it should work for me precisely the same way," he snipes.

Then the Groom tells Yukari that Sudou's only problem was his methods. Jun sighs the deep, bone-weary sigh of the Done.

"I empathize with your desire to be with and protect the one you love," he tells the Groom with a touch more gentleness than before. Then he shakes his head. "But I chose to awaken from my dreams. I can only pray you will too, before it's too late for you both."

This sentiment is, by coincidence, underscored by a ROCKET LAUNCHER. The explosions rock the room, and Jun has to clap his hands over his ears and shut his eyes to keep from being deafened and blinded.

Because of that, he doesn't catch Miyu answering her comm. He only hears a heartbeat growing louder and more frantic, as the ''wrongness'' he's come to know so well pervades the area. Argeiphontes protects him from it; it does not make him immune. A promise is a promise, not a geas. It can still break.

When he looks up, the Groom summons Faust, and there are four--no, ''five'' of her now, her already masterful swordstrokes backed by the power of her Persona. There is no pirouetting out of the way for Jun this time; he screams as these blows rip through his defenses and leave him slumped on the floor, battered, disheveled, and barely conscious.

Certainly he's in no condition to stop Miyu ''or'' Tsurugi from making off with their latest victim.
</poem>

AS: Block Best! Tamaki Uchida takes 47 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale. Critical Hit!
AS: Nemesis! Tamaki Uchida can take another Weak action this round!
AS: Block Best! Tamaki Uchida takes 37 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Tempête Fatale.

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>+big yes
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
'Of course not.'

Yukari gives Tsurugi a look like they just watched Tsurugi eat a whole rotten cabbage at that. "Wow. You seriously think me trying to save people makes me worse than you for trying to kill them? ... Listen to yourself sometime."

'... huh... yeah, I ain't done yet!'

Relief floods her in the fact that they seem to be alright, "You're not. We've got you!"

ROCKET LAUNCHER

"I still- don't know where they even get that..."

Yukari Takeba says, as her ears come down from ringing from the blast wave.

"He was a serial killer! He was just crazy!" Yukari protests at the idea that Sudou saw any 'truth'. "The things he wrote over his walls..."

Even right now in the heat of battle, she can't help but feel goosepimples comes up.

"That doesn't make any sense..." This idea of an illusion over the whole world. It sounds just as significant as what her father did, breaking time and space itself- maybe moreso.

It's something she can't comprehend. Maybe it's something she doesn't want to comprehend.

"I didn't even know you before trying to kill that cop! And you're saying- you're saying you knew me?"

It's easy enough to think she's just crazy, like Sudou. She wants to dismiss it like that. But there's enough moments wherein she can't- really do so. Even saying so, it comes back into her thoughts.

And then they just don't stop racing around in there.

'Takeba-san,'
'there's files on all of us. But that doesn't mean...'

"Files? But-" It's an easy way to write it off, but- It doesn't quite do it. Not with what she said, not the way those words of 'the heroine who would see life come of death' keep repeating.

Like she can see right through her.

'Sudou-san died being deceived by the 'Voices' that whispered promises of the glorious Other Side. Take care you aren't being deceived yourself.'

"-right. I- shouldn't even listen."

Unfortunately its the way of Yukari Takeba, to not be able to move on from a thought that gets stuck in her head. But Jun at least knocks her out of the loop for now.

But its wormed her way into her head enough, that when the Groom calls upon Faust, and she pulls the trigger in response.

"Oh no you don't-!"

Io appears, and with Faust, her strikes cleave through the Persona, slashing it in four different ways, as it slides apart, shattering in mid-air.

In the end, all it takes is another one, to send her sliding, insensate to the floor, suffering so many Persona breaks and injuries beside.

It's over. She's alive.

And this whole night will stick with her, not just of how they failed to stop them- but that Sudou's death hasn't stopped discussion of 'The Other Side'.

She vanishes soon after, with this incursion 'resolved'. Returning back to whence she came.

It's gonna be real weird waking up in that train station bathroom...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>The strike was a ferocious one. A vicious thing that should have torn steel and sinew apart with animalistic ferocity. But there was nothing at the point of impact. Hyousuke didn't care how close he was, or how much effort it had taken - the hound that had only snatched the rabbit's fur could take no solace in that it had *almost* claimed its prey. With a wild, frustrated, look written clear on his face, Hyousuke turned with darkness once more wreathing his hands. Like the fire before, it clung to his skin, waiting for its chance to spread.

Something stopped even him in his tracks, however. From his distance, he couldn't quite make out what Tsurugi had said, and there was less chance of him making out her expression for obvious reasons. But the way she acted, and what little of her tone he could intuit, left him wondering what exactly could have left such a dauntless fighter in such a state. Her ally seemed to be in no better a state - something had happened, it seemed, but he knew not what. Plagued by a gut feeling of dread, Hyousuke drew back, bracing for whatever came next.

It was a good thing he did. The winds before had mercilessly lacerated his flesh, but the tempest Tsurugi unleashed upon him then was a league above it. He could do nothing to avoid it, and even as Achilles stood fast against the oncoming storm, Hyousuke felt as though the flesh was being flayed from his very bones. He cried out through clenched teeth, staggering backwards with each successive hit, until he was finally thrown across the floor like a discarded ragdoll. Needless to say, there was nothing he could do to stop them leaving.

"NO!" He bellowed, eyes wide and hand outstretched. "GET BACK HERE! God damn it, you don't get t- Gh!" Sharp pains erupted from all across his body. The screaming of muscles begging for rest, the stinging of wounds etched into his body like scalpel marks, the singed skin not healed by Yukari's skill... It all left him, in spite of his rabid determination, in no state to pursue. Not that he would have known where to go in the first place. Unable to contain his anger, and equally incapable of putting it into words, a feral shout ripped itself from his lips, and Hyousuke stood hunched where he'd been left.

He'd failed. Neither of the mysterious figures had been apprehended, they'd escaped with their target, and he'd not even been left with the slightest clue about who any of them were. If anything, he'd been left with more questions than answers. But, as his eyes raked across the aftermath of the carnage, he forced the rage back. There would be ample time for it later. The wounded needed tending to and the users needed to escape.
"Kashihara-san." He grunted, leaning down as the green glow of a healing-aligned skill card enveloped them both. "Come on, on your feet. We gotta move before the cops show up."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu actually cracks a smirk as Tsurugi says she speaks of it as if that has not happened already.

"...You know what? Fair enough." She admits - and then nods, when Tsurugi says she can't yield. "No need to worry about ''that''."

Tsurugi compliments her determination even, and Shinobu nods.

"...Thanks." She replies. But on the other side of the battlefield... ''Something'' happens. She's distracted, briefly, as she sees Miyu strike out more viciously than she's seen her do before.

She can't focus on her for long - because Tsurugi brings her own power to bear. Shinobu grimaces. She braces herself against that explosion of winds, but she's only able to resist the main force of it before she's hurled into a nearby wall.

And before she can recover... Tsurugi and Miyu escape with the Joker Cursed-President in tow.

"...Damn it!" Shinobu hisses, forcing herself to her feet with her staff for support. She slams her fist into a nearby wall. She looks over to the side of the room - and winces at the carnage.

"...The hell happened to set her off like that...?" She murmurs.

It hurts to admit defeat - but it's clear that no one's really in good shape to pursue. ...And like Hyousuke says, they should probably get out of here before the authorities arrive.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
Phoenix, indeed, rises from the ashes.

But it was not the Groom who sacrificed her eye for wisdom...

"Fuck you ''an''' th' Old Maid!" They snap, as Miyu speaks of her visions; with no love for him, they have no love spare for ''her,'' either. "If your shit-ass world ain't got no rocket launchers, I don't wanna HEAR IT!" ... that's one way to deny the world that was, huh, Jun?

They can at least feel a moment of grim satisfaction when she's blasted back by said (fucking) rocket launcher, though...

... victory never ''lasts,'' does it?

No -- she gets a call in the most sinister way someone ''can,'' and Phoenix's eyes narrow, behind their mask. "Fuck's goin' on with you?" They demand, stowing their rocket launcher to grasp their sword warily, as someone else's heartbeat pounds in their ears for once.

As --

Miho doubles, and doubles again, and there is no more room for quips as Phoenix is forced into a hurricane of violence and motion. There -- a blade comes for them! There -- they clash against it with their massive slab of a greatsword, and without even a breath between them there is ''another'' blade, at their back, and they're slashed before they can turn, to assault her again. There -- impossibly -- ''above,'' and Phoenix meets the slash with an overhead swing. Their muscles tremble and shake, as their blade is pressed close to their body with the force of the blow, until they can no longer ''hold'' against it, until it knocks them prone.

They rise, one glove to the ground as they bring their sword up like a ''shield'' to block another blow. To a knee, and they ''lunge,'' into a strike with draconic strength. There they are caught, again, before they can carve through; there, they are thrown down, and ''this'' time when they hit the deck they can't rise so quickly.

"WAIT!" They cry, as she leaves with her horrible companion, and if pain is the luxury that lets them know they're alive then no one has ''been'' more alive than Phoenix is right now, as far as they're concerned.

"... fuck," they spit, as they finally manage to haul themself ''standing,'' at least. They limp over to Yukari, and tap her on the shoulder, to make sure she's alive, too -- leaning over to assure her, softly, at some sign of life: "They ain't th' only ones what can build up files. Every time we fight 'em... we're gettin' closer to figurin' it out."

With a grimace, they straighten up again. "... take care a Kashihara-kun," they urge Hyousuke, as they make a cool exit out the window.

Of course, as soon as they're out of range of the magic of the building, all that coolness evaporates into, "ow, geez, fuck --"

DRAGON LADY HITS LIKE A TRUCK WHO GAVE HER THE RIGHT

</poem>
<Big Scene> Ren/Jun: Yanagi Nagisa says, "always time to blu-ray"

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> 'I see the True World in my dreams.' Unlike with Umie herself.

However, Miho subscribes to the same 'Other World' that Sudou does, whether because of things he's told him, the NWO, or even, Umie's own prophecies. The last option is that Miho and Yua are influenced by the same forces... but...

There's too many differences to rule that, when she doesn't even know the shape of what 'it' is, and how it ties to her own self, the NWO, and the thing called 'Joker' and 'Nyarlathotep'. How many little prophets and oracles did the NWO spawn, in trying to create a path towards that 'sinless world'?

'Take care you aren't being deceived yourself.'
It's all 'bad luck', as far as she can see.

"It's all delusion, attempting to become reality," she says, quietly, in agreement with Yukari. "That's what the Voices promised Sudou. He thought we were the same, but we weren't. I've never recieved visions. Just..." That she can remember, anyway.

Remembering a field trip that never happened? Well, something so insignificant would be excused, when a child had been talking about grand prophecies, and...
Even that is something only her parents would remember, not Umie Akabane herself.

Attachment. Hate. Delusion.

"I refuse... to be something's..." You're not saying it loud enough, Umie Akabane. You don't even know what you need to progress.
No one's broken a lock on that mystery through grumbling about it.

All a senseless little bird can do is survive, right now, as the Groom's sudden, oddly hurried pace drastically changes her tactics. "Gh!!" If the earlier exchange was a savage dance, this is a massacre, Umie deploying whatever she can just to last until the next blow, and the next.
And the next.
And so forth, until the offense is withdrawn, Tsurugi and Miyu disappearing into dark.

"_Damn it_... Don't bother chasing, the field's going to collapse any minute now with them gone!!" she says. Phoenix is already on it, disappearing out the window. "... That's... one way of doing things," Umie grimaces.

....

".... I'm calling for help for any survivors here." She's already drawn out a burner phone and called a number with her thumb, reaching into another pocket to draw out a lifestone, using it on herself. "I got one or two lifestones to spare, but anybody who doesn't want to spend their days in the hospital better scram."

At least this time there's no demons to pick up after, so... progress...?
(Now she's thinking about Taro-kun again...)
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
'... my survival is incompatible with your other goals.' Tamaki takes a moment to chew on that. All else held constant, that's probably true, but Tsurugi's being cagey about why that's actually the case or what mechanism determines her survival. "Reminds me of what a friend of yours said, 'Do not blind the seers, else the men behind them will consume them whole.'"

Granted, Tamaki has some vivid memories of one such man consuming Sudou. She had the best seats in the house for that event. While a part of her is tempted to do like Maya does and keep thinking positive, genuine fear causes her to tremble at the prospect of even trying to dismantle their hold over her. Even still, she continues, "... y-you still deserve for someone to try."

Notably absent from her protest is any notion that she believes that she'll succeed.

'More than you can know.' Tsurugi's reply garners a drawn-out "Hmmm ..." from Tamaki as she tilts her head in doubt. "Are you sure about ''that''? Try me. Ask the Bride."

It's then that Miyu's heartbeat becomes too loud for Tamaki to ignore. She spoke of dreaming of the other world ever since she was a child. Some strange emotion begins to well up in Tamaki, but she can't quite pin down what or why. Envy? Disappointment? Relief? She can't discern it in the cacophony. The only thing that cuts through is her fear as Faust's wrath causes others to fall. "No -- !"

Tamaki moves to aid the others, but falters as Tsurugi cuts a path to Miyu. With her own attention split, she realizes the pair have made off with the Joker.

She quietly swears under her breath as she surveys the damage to the office and everyone else, then rummages through her bag for some of the medical supplies she keeps handy with a heavy sigh. "I've got some mundane treatment here, Mitsuhide-san." She jabs a finger at Hyousuke. "If I've got any left, you're using some of these."

Tamaki pauses and narrows her eyes in thought when Shinobu asks what set Miyu off like that. "Tsk. Don't know, but worth thinking about."

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

User:Talnora

2026-09-24T21:16:12Z

Talnora: Updated with some more stuff I made and added sections

Howdy!

My pronouns are she/her. I'm an avid roleplayer and I do a fair bit of programming and techie stuff as well.

= I Made This =
Speaking of programming:

* On the MUSH:
** Ansi Helper in the lobby room (<code>+ansi</code> in the lobby to use)
** The MUSH's log-in mail checker (That you can check manually with <code>+mail</code>)
** The new IC Calendar, also accessible in the lobby (<code>+cal</code> to use)
** The new <code>+limit</code> to display available limit and limit actions
** I helped fix the moon (check <code>+date</code>)
* And I've made templates for the Wiki!
** <code><nowiki>{{Arcana|<Arcana name>}}</nowiki></code> for a nicely formatted Arcana link, with the Arcana's # ([[Template:Arcana|help file]])
** <code><nowiki>{{LogList|<Character Name>|<Episode>[|Number of Columns]}}</nowiki></code> to list your character's logs and cutscenes ([[Template:LogList|help file]])
** <code><nowiki>{{ICAge|YYYY|MM|DD}}</nowiki></code> to calculate a character's current age, relative to the current IC date ([[Template:ICAge|help file]])
** <code><nowiki>{{ICDate[|<date>]}}</nowiki></code> to get the current IC date relative to the current date or a specified one ([[Template:ICDate|help file]])
** <code><nowiki>{{ICTimestamp[|<date>]}}</nowiki></code> to get an IC Unix epoch timestamp, in seconds. (More niche, most people will want <code><nowiki>{{ICDate}}</nowiki></code> above instead.) ([[Template:ICTimestamp|help file]])

= Characters =
== Velvet Room ==
* [[Ririka Kawase]] (Focus; debuted Season 1, Episode 1): A young music prodigy struggling with the grief of her brother's death. Evoker user, has joined SEES.
* [[Remi Ryuuja]] (Nemesis; debuted Season 1, Episode 1): The heir apparent to an international French company who has suddenly reappeared after three and a half years. Artificial Persona User in the NWO's clutches.
* [[Kazusa Motojima]] (Focus; debuted Season 1, Episode 1): Shujin's former 'Demon Queen' a mean girl who bullied others while suffering under her father's corrosive influence. Unexpectedly became nice when she was controlled by a Homunculus for a month, but is now back to herself. Since undergoing her Transmutation Awakening she has committed herself to being a better person, but the path to recovery will be long.

== Dream Chasers ==
I'm also Talnora on Dream Chasers, where I play:
* Hannah Curie
* Seraph Cavall
* Mia Kiwako
* Kalisa Dragmire/Luna Meitner
* Misty Kasumi
* Scarlet Wilde

== Battle Fantasia ==
... as well as Talnora on Battle Fantasia, where I play:
* Kyouka Okazaki
* Raiko Takashima
* Ginka Shimizu

Kazusa Motojima

2026-09-24T19:41:31Z

Talnora: /* Season 1 */ I made the LogList template for everyone to use I may as well also use it.

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Kazusa Motojima'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kazusa Motojima (元島和紗)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Strength}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1995|05|11}} (May 11, 1995)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Purple
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'2" /157 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| AB
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Shibuya Ward, Tokyo
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Shujin Academy
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Second Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Persona Syzygy]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| None
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"You call'' that ''an outfit?"''

Behind her back, people call Kazusa the Demon Queen of Shujin... and she doesn't care. Kazusa is rich, popular, stylish, and a star of Shujin's Rhythmic Gymnastics team. She has followers who hang on her every word, but for those who don't fit the mold of what's 'acceptable' she can be vicious and cruel. And of course, most people know her last name from the Motojima Corporation, makers of video games and home electronics. (Not that Kazusa would be caught dead playing a video game, mind you.) Kazusa does genuinely put in the hard work for (most) of what she has, and she demands excellence from those around her, but this can also lead her to being impatient and short-tempered for those who can't keep up. What most people don't know, however, is her cruel demeanor masks a creative and passionate heart, one stifled under the rigid expectations placed upon her.

= Background =
Kazusa was born to a family legacy: she is a daughter of the Motohima family, who owns the Motojima Corporation, a well-known manufacturer of consumer electronics, consoles, and video games.

Her grandparents, Shigeki and Kae Motojima, are two notable figures in Motojima Corporation's history. As a programmer and artist duo, they made some of the earliest arcade cabinets and console games, helping expand the Motojima Corporation's influence and standing. Kazusa dearly wants to follow in their footsteps, but has faced a constant rodeblock: her father.

Kazuki Motojima is not on good terms with his parents, criticizing their creative efforts and, by extension, his daughter's ambitions. He is the current CFO of the Motojima Corporation, and carries a no-nonsense attitude besides.

Kazusa entered Shujin Academy's system starting with her first year of middle school, and immediately joined the Rhythmic gymnastics club. She also met Wakana Oosaka, a girl who would become her best friend... and eventual semi-lackey. Kazusa's talents for Rhythmic Gymnastics gained her notice, as did her family's wealth and status, combined with an on-point fashion sense.

She became popular... but as she weathered the negative influences of her father, all of that strain and criticism started to be reflected outwards. Starting to criticize anybody who stood out didn't conform to the norms, this habit grew more and more until the students started whispering a name behind her back; "Demon Queen."

==Season 1, Episode 1==

In her 2nd year of high school, Kazusa's reign as the Demon Queen has continued unabated. However, over the summer break, something happened.

Rumor has it Kazusa was caught out ''in cosplay'' at a local video game convention, and by her father no less. The rumor mill has started circulatihg the news, with some unwilling to believe the serious, no-nonsense Demon Queen could be caught up in something so nerdy, and others glad to see her taken down a peg.

But nobody was prepared for what would come next: When the Fall Semester started, Kazusa came back... a lot nicer, as well as a lot brighter and chipper. One would be hard-pressed to reconcile this new version of her with her previous attitude, and there's a good reason for that.

Any Persona User who notices her can tell that the thing wearing Kazusa's skin is definitely '''not human'''. She is, in fact, a [[Homunculus]]... but really, isn't this version of her much nicer?



= Special Skills =
Kazusa is an expert at spending her father's money, or so it seems. She is legitimately a talented member of Shujin's Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.

Approaches:

1. Fashion Talk ''(Academics)'': You've gotta stay up with the latest trends, right? Getting caught in last season's fashions is ''such'' a loser move.

2. Demon Queen ''(Charm)'': Love her or hate her (and plenty of people do the latter), Kazusa's got a commanding presence.

3. Rhythm and Flow ''(Proficiency)'': Kazusa has spent a long time doing rhythmic gymnastcis, and she has the grace and agility to go with it.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Hazuki Nakao]]
| Nakao-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| So you were that girl in the atelier... why can't I stop thinking about you?
|-
| [[Hazuki Nakao|MorningStarGirl]]
| MorningStarGirl
| {{Arcana|???}}
| You're pretty skilled at Night Parade... and weirdly, talking to you is really easy, sometimes.
|-
| [[Fuuka Yamagishi]]
| Yamagishi-san
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Thanks for keeping my sketchbook safe... I guess if you ever want to talk about tech sometime...
|-
| [[Ren Amamiya]]
| Amamiya-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Doing the right thing, even when it's hard... I still don't understand you, but... maybe there's more to you than just the 'criminal delinquent' the rumors talk about.
|-
| [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]]
| Yoshizawa-san
| {{Arcana|Star}}
| You look like you're doing better, at least. Good. I've... got enough to worry about.
|-
| [[Ann Takamaki]]
| Takamaki-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| I've been thinking about what Amamiya-san said about you... hmm.
|-
| [[Shinjiro Aragaki]]
| I don't even know your name.
| {{Arcana|Hierophant}}
| How did someone like ''you'' become a Peacock Silk customer? And what's with that coat?
|-
| [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]]
| Yoshinaga-senpai
| {{Arcana|Emperor}}
| I don't know what it is you want, but... get to the point.
|-
| [[Ryuji Sakamoto]]
| Sakamoto-san
| {{Arcana|Chariot}}
| I wish you hadn't put yourself at risk for me, but... you were the only one who tried to step in. I'll remember that.
|-
| [[Kanae Fuyuki]]
| Kanae-chan
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| So... we're friends now. Um. Thanks. I'll try to be a good friend to you.
|-
| [[Makoto Niijima]]
| Niijima-senpai
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Were you deliberately trying to provoke that thing!? What is ''wrong'' with you??
|-
| [[Haru Okumura]]
| Definitely Okumura-senpai
| {{Arcana|Empress}}
| So you like those kinds of movies, huh... well, glad to know I'm not the only one.
|-
| [[Moriko Kumamoto]]
| Kumamoto-san
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| I still can't believe you took that picture, but... the stew wasn't half bad, I guess...
|-
| [[Shinichi Nagisa]]
| Nagisa-san
| {{Arcana|Magician}}
| ... We'll get the real you back. Promise. I won't leave you there any longer than I have to.
|-
| [[Roger]]
| Roger-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| I'm still upset that you endangered Wakana-chan, but... I shouldn't have snapped at you.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

=== Family ===

'''Kazuki Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Emperor}}): Kazusa's father and the current CFO of the Motojima Corporation. Very stern, and does not see much value in creative vocations, much less his daughter's desire to pursue them; he would much rather Kazusa pursue Rhythmic Gymnastics. Has been verbally abusive of Kazusa's desires and 'unfeminine' traits, leading to her being taken over by a Homunculus. Openly pleased about the Homunculus version of Kazusa and how she seems to be a lot more compliant to his wishes.

'''Karin Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Hierophant}}): Kazusa's mother. She is a quiet, soft-spoken woman, who comports herself in a far more traditional way. Her family owns a small flower shop, where she learned the art of flower arrangement. She also performs traditional tea ceremonies and practices calligraphy. She has aligned herself with Kazuki in encouraging her daughter to seek a more traditional path, even if her approach is gentler on its surface.

'''Kazuhiro Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Moon}}): Kazusa's younger brother by about a year. A first-year at Shujin Academy and a member of its basketball team. Quietly looks out for his sister. Kazusa may openly draw the most open ire from their father, but he hasn't escaped unscathed either. He's learned to hide his own interests, putting on an air of 'one of the guys' to escape scrutiny from Kazuki. As children they used to be closer but drifted apart due to the pressure and strain. But Kazuhiro helped Kazusa out while she was a Homunculus, at risk to himself, and now both siblings have pledged to support each other against their parents.

'''Shigeki Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Magician}}): Kazusa's paternal grandfather. He was one of the earliest programmers for the Motojima Corporation and helped create some of their earliest arcade cabinets and then console games in the 70's and 80's, going on to become a storied producer behind many of the Motojima Corporation's biggest franchises such as Night Parade. He is a boistrous figure when speaking publicly. Doesn't have a great relationship with his son Kazuki.

'''Kae Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Empress}}): Kazusa's paternal grandmother. She started at the Motojima Corporation as a graphic artist/designer, but embraced new mediums as they developed which led to her working on some of the Motojima Corporation's earliest video games. She helped pioneer new techniques in digitial art, and over time worked her way up to being an art director for their interactive entertainment division. She and Shigeki met when working on the earliest video games and quickly became a power couple. She is trying to mend her relationship with Shigeki while also taking a firm stance against his treatment of her grandchildren.

'''Motojima Corporation''': The Motojima Corporation is a family-owned company that has grown rapidly over the past few decades. They are primarily known for producing consumer electronics as well as video game consoles, games, and arcade cabinets, as well as other related technologies. They have many long-running popular franchises, including the fighting game series Night Parade.

=== Friends ===

'''Wakana Oosaka''' ({{Arcana|Star}}): Kazusa's closest friend, and the one most privy to her private ambitions... but also all of her reflected negativity. She is a second year student at Shujin Academy, in the same class as Kazusa, and is also a member of the Rhythmic Gymnastics team. Both of them have been practicing Rhythmic Gymnastics together since elementary school, in fact, and Wakana knows that the version of Kazusa that people know as the Demon Queen isn't the way she's always been. She's offered Kazusa chance after chance, even as their relationship strained... but something shifted when [[2026-02-24:_Fair-weather_Friend|Kazusa's Homunculus threatened her]]. The genuine Kazusa has now [[2026-03-14:_Letting_Go,_Holding_On|offered the apology she always deserved]], but while Wakana has accepted the apology as genuine... she isn't ready to offer trust again so readily. Right now they're on a break, and Kazusa is doing her best to give Wakana the space she needs. (Which is difficult, considering they're in the same class and club together.)

= Logs and Cutscenes =

== Season 1 ==

=== Episode 1 ===
{{LogList|Kazusa Motojima|Season 1, Episode 1}}

=== Episode 2 ===
{{LogList|Kazusa Motojima|Season 1, Episode 2}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Shujin Academy]]
[[Category:Focus]]

Remi Ryuuja

2026-09-24T19:40:10Z

Talnora: /* Logs and Cutscenes */ I made the LogList template for everyone to use I may as well also use it.

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Remi Ryuuja'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Remi Ryuuja (竜者麗珠)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Tower}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1989|10|28}} (Oct 28, 1989)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Strological Sign:
| Scorpio
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Honey blonde
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown with green flecks
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'6" /168 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| B
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Aoba Ward, Sumaru
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| The Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Chief Lieutenant
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Nemesis
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Velvet Room MUSH (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[New World Order]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"Get out of my way or I'll cut you down."''

Remi is the daughter of a French businesswoman and a Japanese corporate lawyer, and it was always assumed that she would step into the family business,Délices Montagnards, one day. But shortly after starting college she vanished from public life. Now, three and a half years later, she has suddenly reappeared, but she seems to be keeping herself distant from her family, and evasive about what she has been up to all this time. Her parents are keeping quiet as well, but the arrival of a new son has some wondering if Remi might have been disowned, a perception not helped by Remi taking an 'ordinary' job at the Cardboard Dragon. Remi used to be known as both a talented actress and a superbly talented fencer, but also used to enjoy a life of status and privilege she is seemingly now going without. The truth of her situation, however, is far darker than it appears: The New World Order kidnapped her and turned her into an Artificial Persona User, making her a weapon for their purposes. Now assigned to her high school friend Miho as an asset, Remi is searching for a way to reclaim agency in her life and escape the NWO's clutches.

= Background =
Remi was born to a life of luxury, the daughter of a wealthy French CEO and a respected Japanese corporate lawyer. She grew up with the expectation that she would one day take over the family's business, but until that fateful day arrived, she would be free to live her life as she chose, as long as she kept up the proper decorum, of course.

She grew up used to a life of refinement and culture. Japanes culture, certainly, but also French. While she was born and raised in Japan, she adored her (very frequent) trips to France, and one of her earliest loves was French literature. (She has read The Three Musketeers in the original French, thank you). From there she picked up a love of adventurous swashbuckling tales, and branched into fencing and Drama Club to satisfy the urge to act out those stories, and would even find HEMA workshops to engage in on her frequent trips to France.

When she started attending Seven Sisters High School, she would meet several students who would go on to become her closest friends. Myunghon Yeo she bonded with over a shared love of literature. Miho she would cross sabers with in Fencing Club. And Yua she would meet in second year, when Remi's Drama partnered with Yua's Dance club to put on ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''.

Notably, Yua would play Titania to Remi's Oberon. Remi often sought out the male roles, those that she found interesting or those that would give her a chance to do some memorable stage combat. And for her last year, she wanted a chance to perform a classic role: Romeo, in ''Romeo and Juliet''. She won the role, and caused a stir when she and Honoka Wasa, playing Juliet, had such good stage chemistry it caused some speculation and rumor. However, both of them flatly dnied there was anything more than that.

Remi graduated high school and moved on to college, as expected, putting her love of drama and fencing mostly behind. She took a trip to visit Miho at the 2008 Olympics... but then promptly vanished from the public eye.

She had been investigating the disappearance of Yua and attracted the wrong kind of attention, being kidnapped and taken to the same blacksite lab her friend was at. There she was forced to Awaken to an artificial Persona, and forced to undergo brutal experiments and conditioning to make her into an NWO asset.

Eventually, three and a half years later, she was discharged into Miho's custody, to serve the NWO alongside Yua as the black-suited fencer 'Tsurugi.' She is also reconnecting with Myunghon, working for them at the Cardboard Dragon, though of course, this carries its own dangers and complications...

==Season 1, Episode 1==
Forthcoming

= Persona =
Remi's Persona is La Maupin.

Description: La Maupin is a shadowy, androgynous figure in a crimson red leather straightjacket with gold studs; the sleeves are unbound, and though the sleeve they clutch a chipped rapier, letting the excess length swing free. They also wear an ornate but tattered red hat and a flaking gold masquerade mask.

= Special Skills =
Remi is pretty handy with a sword, experienced in both sport fencing with a saber, but using a rapier and main gauche in HEMA style fighting. She is also a talented actress, capable of adapting herself to various kinds of roles.

Approaches:

1. Flattery ''(Charm)'': Why bully someone into giving you what you want, when you can make them think it was their idea to begin with? A gentle compliment can go a long way.

2. Unflinching Stare ''(Guts)'': Remi's experiences in the lab have hardened her. She has been forced to fight countess Shadows, and can stare one down without flinching... whether she likes it or not.

3. Dramatis Persona ''(Proficiency)'': Remi always sought to combine her love for stagecraft and combat, with the culmination of both represented in this approach.

= Relationships =

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Miho Ijuuin]]
| Miho, Miyu
| {{Arcana|The Emperor}}
| Trusted friend. It seems we are more alike than I ever realized... it makes me wish I had said something sooner. But... I will try to share my burdens more, as surely as I shoulder those of others.
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro]]
| Yua-chan, Yumi
| {{Arcana|The Empress}}
| Trusted friend. If a Knight is the role I am to play for you, then... I shall play it to the utmost, my Lady.
|-
| [[Myunghon Yeo]]
| Myunghon, Merry
| {{Arcana|The Devil}}
| Trusted friend. Myunghon... I fear I do not understand you half as well as you deserve. But that is my failing, not yours.
|-
| [[Shinobu Shimizu]]
| Shimizu-san
| {{Arcana|Hanged Man}}
| Associate. You have done well by Myunghon... please do for them the things I cannot. I have let you a glimpse behind Ariel's mask, but Tsurugi's must remain in place.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro#Tiger|Tiger]]
| Tiger
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Ah, but that I could steal you away for myself, for you are warm and affectionate in equal measure. How cruel a truth it is that I am no better equipped to care for you than I am myself, some days.
|-
| [[Junya Kaneshiro]]
| Sac à merde
| {{Arcana|Hierophant}}
| You are brought low... and still I am not satisfied. It sickens me that I had to protect you, however indirectly. It sickens me more that you have highlighted some of my shortcomings.
|-
| Koichi Ishiba
| ...
| {{Arcana|?}}
| What a singularly disgusting, revolting person--and I hesitate to even call you a ''person''. I, too, know what it is to be caught up in 'bigger things'... but I still yearn to claw my way out, rather than wallow in wretchedness.
|}

= Logs and Cutscenes =

== Season 1 ==

=== Episode 1 ===
{{LogList|Remi Ryuuja|Season 1, Episode 1}}

=== Episode 2 ===
{{LogList|Remi Ryuuja|Season 1, Episode 2}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:New World Order]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]
[[Category:Focus]]

Ririka Kawase

2026-09-24T19:38:55Z

Talnora: /* Logs and Cutscenes */ I made the LogList template for everyone to use I may as well also use it.

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Ririka Kawase'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Ririka Kawase (川瀬桃佳)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Hanged Man}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1995|07|17}} (July 17th 1995)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown-black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Red
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'7" /172 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| A
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Iwatodai Dorm, Iwatodai
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Second Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"... I'll carry on."''

Ririka was recognized from a very young age to have a prodigious talent for music, easily taking to and excelling at the piano starting in elementary school. Nowadays she has broadened her musical horizons, forming the rock band Polychord and making a new name for herself and her bandmates. But a recent awakening and a newfound knowledge of the supernatural has threatened to throw a lot of complications into her life. Ririka is dedicated and a hard worker, constantly practicing to improve her skills, and is dedicated to helping her band members shine as well. But the death of her older brother Toshiaki one and a half years ago has also left her grieving and determined to carry the weight of this grief alone, for fear of not living up to her sterling reputation... and the deep cracks in her foundation are starting to show. In supernatural spaces she acts as a Navigator, using her keen ear to sift through the static looking for the clear tones hidden within, and in combat she provides support and encouragement to her allies.

= Background =
From a very young age, Ririka was hailed as a prodigious musical talent, easily picking up and playing piano at a high level. She also displayed a talent for easily listening to and analyzing music as well. Her older brother, Toshiaki, was also recognized to be similarly talented academically, and the two of them because the standout talents of the Kawase family from their elementary school days. The attention and pressure that came with this recognition meant they formed a close bond... but unfortunately this meant their middle sister, Ichika, whose talents were not as visible, often went unnoticed.

In middle school Ririka expanded her musical ambitions. She didn't give up piano, of course, but she wanted to learn to play the guitar. Together with her childhood best friend Emi, she eventually assembled a group of musicians to have informal jam sessions with, who would then later take on the name Polychord. Ririka has since split her attention between her classical piano and rock band endeavors.

Toshiaki's sudden and unexpected death in September 2010 sent ripples through the family, and Ririka has never fully recovered from losing her closest supportive bond... not that most people would realize this, of course. Ririka grieved in all the appropriate ways, but then pretended to be okay and started trying to carry the burden of both her grief and her sterling reputation alone.

==Season 1, Episode 1==
Forthcoming

= Persona =
Ririka's Persona is Amphion!

Description: Amphion is a man made of polished dark gray stone with red LEDs for eyes, wrapped in a greek toga and wearing heavy boots wrapped in gold chains and padlocks that force him to take slow, lumbering steps. He wears a pair of large headphones around his neck, and carries a gleaming gold lyre with ephemeral strings that occasionally flicker into existence.

All Ririka has ever wanted to do was to reach out to other people with her music, often finding it easier to express herself that way than otherwise. Amphion helps her do this, enabling her to send her song and her thoughts to others in supernatural spaces. This makes her a Navigator, and she sifts through the signals of Resonance with the help of a pair of headphones Amphion places on her head.

= Special Skills =
Ririka is, of course, a notable musician. Piano was her first and still greatest love, but she is also skilled with a guitar, whether acoustic or electric. She's got a keen ear for listening to and breaking down musical compositions, and has also demonstrated perfect pitch.

She's also not too bad on a skateboard. It's pretty good stress relief, honestly.

Approaches:

1. Music Talk ''(Academics)'': Ririka might have a natural talent, but she's also practiced really hard to refine it, and more importantly, she's studied music extensively. She's also pretty broadly listened, so if you want music theory tidbits or random band trivia... she's got you covered.

2. Band Leader ''(Charm)'': Ririka has her shy, quiet, and reserved moments, to be sure... but a lifetime of performing has given her a well of show energy to tap into. After all, getting a crowd hyped up for a show is just as important as having good music to keep the energy going.

3. Impromptu Performance ''(Proficiency)'': Ririka loves music. Give her a piano or a guitar and she will happily play you a song on the spot. Give her a skateboard and she'll do a few quick tricks for you, too.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Ichika Kawase]]
| Nee-san, Ichika-nee
| {{Arcana|Temperance}}
| Older sister. I'm really glad I could trust you with my secret. I'm going to keep learning how to support you better, because I want to support you like Niichan would've.
|-
| [[Minato Arisato]]
| Arisato-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Classmate and SEES field leader. Really likes music, too.
|-
| [[Minako Arisato]]
| Arisato-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Classmate and SEES field leader. I don't know her that well, but she helped save my life.
|-
| [[Yukari Takeba]]
| Takeba-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| Classmate and SEES member. I know I screwed up, but I'm trying to do better. But I don't even know what you want from me.
|-
| [[Shizuka Kuroki]]
| Kuroki-senpai
| {{Arcana|Moon}}
| Senpai and SEES member. And... she apparently loves puns.
|-
| [[Hitomi Mandai]]
| Mandai-chan
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Senpai and SEES member. Thanks for welcoming me when I moved in.
|-
| [[Suzume Fukura]]
| Fukura-chan
| {{Arcana|Chariot}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're pretty good at fighting games, ''and'' you're repaired your own consoles? That's really cool.
|-
| [[Reiya Aomori]]
| Aomori-san
| {{Arcana|The Hermit}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're really good at following people, I've heard. That's... kinda weird, right?
|-
| [[Moriko Kumamoto]]
| Kumamoto-chan
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You ride a motorcycle, and that's awesome. I wanna try riding it sometime.
|-
| [[Koh Katsuhiro]]
| Katsuhiro-san
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Classmate and SEES member. Hey, a fellow music lover, awesome.
|-
| [[Tsubasa Seki]]
| Seki-san
| {{Arcana|Devil}}
| Kasu student. You gave me some good advice for helping my sister, and... it's good to know other people are looking out for Ichika-chan, too. Thanks.
|-
| [[Tyler Gould]]
| Tyler-kun (reluctantly)
| {{Arcana|The Hermit}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're actually pretty fun to jam with, but... geeze, I wish you'd stop referring to me yobisute. We don't know each other that well.
|-
| [[Ayame Watanabe]]
| Watanabe-san
| {{Arcana|Death}}
| A woman I met in Sumaru... and that I watched Awaken. I hope you and your husband are going to be okay, with the Joker Killer after you now...
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro|Yumi]]
| Yumi, Battle Bride
| {{Arcana|???}}
| A dangerous Evoker user. I don't know what you were doing at the TV studio... or why you taught me to use Analysis?
|-
| [[Eikichi Mishina]]
| Mishina-san
| {{Arcana|Death}}
| Kasu student and the Death Boss, I guess? Great stage presence, but... you gotta support your band members if you want them to support you, too.
|-
| [[Ichika Kawase|Ogre]]
| Ogre
| {{Arcana|???}}
| A masked Persona User. Look, if Ichika-chan trusts you, that's good enough for me. I just... is 'justice' really your only motivation for helping my sister?
|-
| [[Fuuka Yamagishi]]
| Yamagishi-san
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Classmate, SEES member, and fellow Navigator! It's nice to know I'll have someone to talk to about these new senses... and it was really cool of you to take video for my band, too!
|-
| [[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
| Kirijo-senpai
| {{Arcana|The Empress}}
| School council president and SEES Leader. You're ''really'' cool, and graceful, and stylish, and... well, the fact that you ride and work on your own motorcycle is '''awesome'''.
|-
| [[So-young Park]]
| Park-sensei
| {{Arcana|The Sun}}
| Amazing conductor and kind of a music rebel. The work you do mixing genres and styles of music is really inspirational! ... Just please don't break too much stuff or cause any disasters? I think you were kidding, but... I'm not sure.
|-
| [[Myunghon Yeo]]
| Yeo-san, Merry-san
| {{Arcana|The Devil}}
| Rumormonger. If you're looking out for people in Sumaru, then... I want to help, too. There's people I care about out there. And thanks for the free Agi card, I'll put it to good use.
|-
| [[Niko Kirisaki]]
| Kirisaki
| {{Arcana|The Moon}}
| Strega member. We aren't friends. I don't know why you think we are, but... we're not.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| Toshiaki Kawase
| Toshi-nii
| {{Arcana|Strength}}
| My older brother. Toshikun, there's... there's not a day that goes by where I don't think about you. I'm trying to follow your example but it's just... it's so hard to go on without you sometimes.
|}

= Logs and Cutscenes =

== Season 1 ==

=== Episode 1 ===
{{LogList|Ririka Kawase|Season 1, Episode 1}}

=== Episode 2 ===
{{LogList|Ririka Kawase|Season 1, Episode 2}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:SEES]]

2026-09-24: Retrouvailles

2026-09-24T19:35:58Z

Talnora: Fix left-out > in wiki formatting.

*'''Cutscene: Retrouvailles'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Remi Ryuuja]], Ayuna Tanaka (family assistant), Elodie Rochefort (mother), Tamahiro Ryuuja (father)
*'''Where:''' Narumi Ward, Sumaru - First a mall, then the Ryuuja estate
*'''OOC Date:''' September 24, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, December 31, 2012 (New Year's Eve)
*'''Summary:''' ''Remi's plans for a solitary New Year's are made unexpectedly complicated when she runs into elements of her pre-capture life that she had been avoiding. And a subsequent trip home becomes far more complex than she could have imagined.''
*'''Content Warning:''' Some depictions of the results of Remi's lab conditioning
----
<poem>
Winter was a miserable season. Remi hadn't always thought so, of course, but there was no denying how the bitter cold air could infect her blood through her lungs, and how it would latch onto the marrow of her bones and never let go. And yet it was a strange salve, in its own way. An almost singular sensation in the ocean of numbness and detachment she had come to associate with her body. Even when she did her best to combat it, wearing layers upon layers, and a thick coat, hat, scarf, and gloves, she would still shiver uncontrollably from time to time.

It couldn't be helped. And thus it was also not worth worrying about, not when she was busy scanning and evaluating the crowds of people in the mall around her. It was a cacophony of sound and movement, an ever-changing landscape with little room to maneuver.

Someone bumped into her side, and Remi instantly shifted her posture, sliding her foot to the side to steady herself. Her eyes narrowed briefly as her gaze flicked to her side. An older Japanese man about her height, maybe a little taller if he stood up straight, with a salaryman's paunch, hunched shoulders, and a nervous, contrite expression. In his hand was a shopping bag held protectively in front of him, and his other hand was free.

Human then. And not a threat. Just an accident. She saw the man reading ''her'', startled, and knew he must be taking in her wavy, honey-blonde hair, her warmer complexion, her height. There was hesitation as he struggled to switch to an unfamiliar language. "Are—"

Remi let her posture relax, let her eyes and lips widen slightly to convey a surprise she did not entirely feel. In the fluent Japanese she had spoken all her life, she said, "Oh! Excuse me, sir. Are you okay?"

Hearing Japanese, the man seemed to lose some tension as he switched languages to match. "Oh, yes, thank you. I'm sorry, it is very busy today, and I was in a rush."

"Think nothing of it," Remi replied, raising a hand to wave off the concern. "Have a Happy New Year's."

The man bowed his head briefly. "Thank you, and you as well, Miss. And may I say, your Japanese is very good."

There was a flash of heat in her chest, but Remi kept a tight grip on it as she worked her face into a practiced smile. "That is very kind of you to say. Thank you." She turned and kept moving her way through the crowd.

The smile dropped from her face once she turned away. All she wanted to do was to pick up her toshikoshi soba and o-toso sake. And perhaps, if she could find a nice vintage, a bottle of wine; she'd been saving up a little to splurge for the New Year.

Her first New Year since leaving the lab. Eight months spent trying to wrestle with what had been done to her and Yua, learning how to cook, work, and live on her own, and trying desperately to hold onto whatever parts of her soul she could even as the NWO directed her to perform ever more gruesome acts.

And just over four years since she had spoken to her parents or anyone from her family. But how could she face them like this? How could she ''explain''? Not for the first time, she told herself it would be better to stay away, to leave them to whatever resolution they had come to, and to avoid stepping back into a life she was now ill-suited for.

She did, in fact, find a nice red wine vintage to go with her other purchases, and bag in hand Remi quickly made her way to the exit. The sooner she could leave the mall, the better.

A loud gasp drew a sharp, focused glare over her shoulder to evaluate the threat—and Remi froze, tension ratcheting her body tightly as she found herself unable to move or even process.

An older woman, roughly in her early forties—''stop it''—wearing a look of naked shock. A dark gray skirt suit—''don't''—that spoke of professional work. Unbalanced posture—''this isn't necessary''—empty hands and no sign of a weapon.

Gray eyes opened wide in a confused mix of shock, horror, grief, and relief. ''Remi'' stop ''you know who this is.''

"O-ojou-sama…?" the older woman eventually managed to get out. "I-it can't—"

Remi's cheeks burned with heat. She couldn't—not like this—it would be better if—but she couldn't ''run'', not now—not a threat—no way to neutralize—why was this happening why was this happening why was—

The woman's left hand was covering her mouth, and Remi could see her chest starting to rise and fall in rapid succession. Hyperventilating. But another motion snapped her focus to the woman's right hand—an overfull shopping bag, with at least several bottles poking out the top and who knew what else. It had jerked down suddenly as the woman's hand went slack.

Another jolt downwards. The handle was resting on her fingertips.

One more jolt—

The tension burst. Without thinking about it Remi threw herself forward, snatching the bag out of the air moments before it impacted the ground.

The woman let out a startled yelp, stumbling back a step, and Remi felt another flash of heat rise in her chest. She could see how those familiar gray eyes had suddenly filled with nothing but fear, for just an instant. Standing upright, Remi awkwardly left the rescued bag extended in front of her, as she forced herself to really ''look'' at the other woman.

Ayuna Tanaka. The Ryuuja family's assistant. ''Her'' assistant, as she had started to grow older, and perhaps once her closest confidante. A woman she had missed far more than Remi had realized, now that hot, burning grief had wedged its way into her conditioned threat assessment. Her voice cracked. "T— Tanaka-san. I—"

Remi speaking had disrupted the eerie stasis of the moment. Ayuna's eyes watered, and in an instant she surged forward to wrap her arms tightly around her former charge. "Ojou-sama— Remi— We thought—"

The sudden contact made Remi's muscles tighten as it prepared to react, but Remi screamed at herself that Ayuna wasn't a threat. After a tense moment she finally relaxed and wrapped both arms around her former assistant and friend. "I know, Ayuna. I know."

Something hot stung her cheeks, stung both of their cheeks as they desperately tried to bridge a gulf of four years.

Neither woman wanted to let go first, but eventually they parted. Ayuna didn't move to take the bag, instead resting her hands on Remi's shoulders, looking the younger woman up and down. "Gods, look at you. Where— where have you ''been''? We were all so worried for you. When you never made it home from Beijing—"

Remi averted her gaze downwards, unable to meet Ayuna's eyes. Her thoughts were roiling. Her heart hammered in her chest, her breathing rapid and shallow. ''Ayuna is not a threat.'' But if that was true, why did it feel like the ground was about to drop from underneath her?

"But you've come back to us!" exclaimed Ayuna, pulling Remi back for another hug. "It's a miracle! We'll have to catch you up— I need to call your parents—"

A hot sharp spike drove itself into the numbness at Remi's core, and before she knew it she was pulling herself backwards, out of Ayuna's grip with far more strength than intended. "NO!" The one word took all her breath, and she panted harshly as she clutched her head, trying to still the racing thoughts.

She didn't need to look to know people were staring at them now. Or to see Ayuna's shocked expression. "Sorry—" she said rapidly. "I— I just mean—not here. Elsewhere. Can we talk elsewhere?"

The older woman recoiled again at the unexpected shout. Doubt and uncertainty flickered across her face, but she slowly nodded. "Of, of course, ojou-sama," she said much more softly and slowly than before. "Whatever you like. Where is your car? I'll follow you anywhere you'd like to go."

Remi took a deep breath, lowering her hand from her head to her chest, like she was trying to force her lungs to move more slowly. "I don't have one. I took the train here."

"You took the—" Ayuna looked briefly perplexed but then shook her head to clear the thought. "Then—would you care to come with me to my car? We don't have to go back home," she added quickly. "We can just… find someplace to talk. I just… don't want to let you slip away again."

There was a long silence as Remi fought to put her racing thoughts back under control. There was no threat. Ayuna wouldn't harm her. If she tried—''she wouldn't''—Remi was more than capable of handling her. "… yes. Thank you."

Ayuna studied Remi for a long moment, brow creased in concern before she finally spoke. "Very well, then. May I have my bag? And… may I take yours, ojou-sama?"

With a slow nod, Remi extended both hands. "… Yes. Thank you, Tanaka-san."

----
They drove, in silence, until Ayuna found an empty bench facing the sea. And then they sat, in silence, watching the morning sun rippling over the waves. Remi pulled her coat tighter as the ocean breeze bit deeply into her core. She couldn't suppress the involuntary shudder, but it gave her something to focus on as she tried to sort through her mess of thoughts.

Ayuna sat on the other end of the bench, hands folded in her lap. She kept her gaze on the ocean, though she couldn't help but take glances at Remi, worry and concern plain on her face. "So…" she started hesitantly, as she considered her words. "… are you taking care of yourself?"

Remi took a deep breath and pulled her coat tighter around herself. "Oui," she said quietly. And she was—as best as she was able to, given the circumstance.

''There are no threats here. Ayuna is your— friend.'' Well, assistant. They had always maintained a close but still-formal connection. But not so formal that Remi couldn't allow herself to open up, just a little bit.

"That's good." Ayuna studied Remi for a long moment, taking her time to formulate the next question. "… does… anyone else know you're here in Sumaru…?"

She didn't have to reveal anything sensitive to explain—though as Remi's mind raced through the potential dangers, she identified one potential social snafu. "Miho-chan and Yua-chan do. In fact, Yua-chan is the reason I am here at all…" Remi finally forced herself to look at Ayuna, though she could feel her chest tighten. "Please understand—I asked them not to say a word. I needed time. But as the time wore on…"

"It's okay," Ayuna said soothingly. "You don't have to explain. Whatever you've been through, it was… obviously a lot. So… have they been looking out for you?"

"Bien sûr. Of course. Without them…" Remi shook her head slowly.

If it wasn't them, she'd still be in the lab. But she couldn't exactly explain about that.

Ayuna nodded slowly, still not moving from her end of the bench. "I'm just… glad you're being cared for, ojou-sama."

"I am." Remi looked back to the ocean, watching the waves crashing against the beach. "I… have an apartment in Aoba ward. I care for three potted plants. Yua-chan has taught me to… clean, and cook." A bare wisp of a smile graced her lips for a fleeting moment. "… and I have studied more myself, besides. I… I even have a job. Several, in fact."

The assistant's eyes widened in surprise, and she regarded Remi with new insight, looking at her posture, her demeanor, and how she spoke of her new skills. "… you seem to have taken to it well, then."

Before Ayuna could speak further, her phone chirped in her pocket. Remi watched from the corner of her eye as Ayuna rushed to retrieve it, looked at the caller ID, and the deep frown that temporarily etched itself into her features. "… who was that?" she asked.

"O-oh, it's nothing important, ojou-sama," Ayuna said a little bit too quickly. "Please don't concern yourself with it."

Remi slid her gaze back out to the ocean. "… it was probably my mother, wondering why it has taken you so long to return."

The following silence confirmed Remi's suspicion. ''Of course. If it had not been for me, she would have returned already. And today is always such a busy day for preparations… Little wonder.''

Ayuna opened her mouth to protest, but caught herself and slowly nodded instead. "… yes, it was. I should call and explain, but… I won't tell her about you. Not if you don't want me to."

Remi stared at the ocean for a long moment as she considered the possibility. She could protect herself. Shield her heart from the chaotic conflict, spare her parents from seeing the… ''weapon'' she had been turned into.

And all it would take would be asking Ayuna to perform an act of deception. To lie to her parents and withhold the truth. For how long? When she was 'ready'?

She would never be ready. They had carved her fear out of her in the lab and yet she was still… ''afraid'' of two ordinary people.

"… you may tell them," Remi finally said, without looking at Ayuna. "If… you would be so kind. And… I should like to see them, if they are willing."

Ayuna regarded Remi for a long moment and then nodded slowly. "As you wish, ojou-sama. Please excuse me for a moment." She stood, walking a short distance from the bench and making a phone call. She spoke in quick, hushed whispers, and with the swift wind blowing in from the ocean Remi couldn't make out what was being said.

Presently, Ayuna returned and nodded. "When you are ready…"

Remi stared at the ocean for a moment longer, feeling her muscles start to coil and her stomach turn upset. She forced herself to stand, shouting at herself for the entire ride home.

----

'Home' was a sprawling, traditional estate with immaculate Japanese landscaping, though many parts of the interior had been given a distinctly Western treatment as Remi's mother had endeavored to establish her influence. Remi averted her gaze from what had once been her private suite as Ayuna pulled the car in, struggling to keep her heart rate down as they grew ever closer to the grounds.

Once Ayuna parked, she looked over to Remi, her eyes focusing on Remi's clenched hands in her lap. "Ojou-sama," she started, and then her voice softened as she gentled it. "… Remi-san. We will do everything we can to make you comfortable. If you need anything at all—even to leave—simply say the word, and I will see to it."

Remi took a deep breath and then forced her hands to unclench, nodding slowly. "Thank you, Tanaka-san. You are… as indispensable as ever."

That earned a small, genuine smile from the older woman. "Thank you for saying so. Then, whenever you are ready?"

Walking through the estate was almost a surreal experience. Everything was as she remembered it, but now Remi couldn't stop her mind from mapping out escape routes and identifying defensible positions, despite her best efforts. She did her best to shove those thoughts aside. ''This is your home. Or it was. There is nothing here that can threaten you.''

She wished she could let herself believe that.

But the route they were taking was both clear, and familiar: her mother's study, a place she had spent much of her formative years in. Remi drew in a sharp breath as she stepped into the plushly-carpeted room. It was decorated in a distinctly French style, with dark wood furniture, European antiques, and several large bookshelves. At one end of the room was her mother's desk, and next to it an armchair she had all but lived in, for a time. Remi would converse with her mother, in French, while her mother worked, or simply curl up with an old French novel.

And if not by the desk… Remi's eyes alighted on the fireplace. A fire was already crackling, and Remi could feel the warmth finally starting to reach her body, though still distantly. Around it were a couch and several chairs—

And her parents.

Remi froze. A woman, slightly shorter than herself, physically fit, in a simple dress that would restrict her movement— ''Stop that.'' Her mother, Elodie Rochefort, a woman in her late 40's, with the same honey blonde hair Remi had, and striking green eyes. She drew in a shocked breath as her eyes fell on her daughter for the first time in four years. "Ma coccinelle!"

She stood quickly to rush forward, but the man sitting on the couch next to her reached a hand out to lightly grab her arm. "Elodie," he said gently. Tamahiro Ryuuja was just slightly taller than Elodie, with brown eyes Remi had mostly inherited from him. His affect was often more stoic and calm, but in this moment Remi could read the cloudy storm brewing behind those eyes.

And both were observing her, as well. Remi's body was tightly wound as she stood in the doorway, and she had elected not to remove her outer coat, though she had let it hang open. It always took her body far longer to warm up these days, especially after being outside for so long.

Remi took a hesitant step into the study. Her voice broke as she spoke. "Maman, Papa, I—" Tears were already stinging her eyes as she slowly lifted her arms.

Elodie rushed forward then, drawing Remi into the tightest embrace. "Oh, ma chérie! Comme tu m’as manqué!"

Letting out a choked sob, Remi wrapped her arms around her mother, burying her face as she let the tears flow. "Toi aussi tu m'as manqué."

Tamahiro remained on the couch, and Ayuna quietly took her place by the door, hands folded neatly in front of her. Remi and Elodie embraced until long after the tears had stopped flowing.

It was a hollowing feeling, one that left Remi utterly gutted and numb. For several heartbeats, Remi lost track of the world, until she suddenly felt a hand on her cheek. She jolted upright, blinking as her eyes focused on the white object being offered to her.

"Tiens, chérie," Elodie urged gently, offering the tissue. "Viens t'asseoir," she added a moment later, gesturing to an empty armchair that sat facing the couch. She tried to keep her voice warm and soft, but it broke slightly as she added, "S'il te plaît?"

Remi reached out to take the tissue, giving a small nod. She could barely trust her own voice, which came out in a hollow whisper. "D'accord, Maman." She retreated to the chair, sitting down in it heavily as she slowly dabbed at her face.

Elodie retreated to the couch, and Tamahiro reached out to take her hand to give it a tight squeeze. The two exchanged a troubled glance, though Remi did not see it. Elodie placed her other hand over Tamahiro's, and sagged against her husband. Both watched their daughter with naked worry, but neither of them rushed to speak.

''They'll want to know what happened,'' Remi thought to herself. Almost immediately a ringing bell nearly split her skull with sharp, white-hot pain.

<span style="font-family: monospace, monospace;">Protect our assets. Do not endanger your cover.</span>

Remi grit her teeth, face contorting for a brief moment. ''I know! I know! I have the cover story!'' She took a few ragged breaths as the ringing subsided, though a painful echo still lingered for a while longer.

Elodie squeezed Tamahiro's hand, drawing in a sharp breath. "Remi-chan, darling," she murmured, switching back to Japanese. "Please, is something the matter?"

"I am simply—" Remi couldn't bring herself to look at her parents. "I am simply… overwhelmed. This is… very trying. Please understand."

Tamahiro and Elodie shared another, longer glance this time. They didn't speak, but the worry was etched ever-deeper on their faces. Tamahiro turned to look at his daughter. "… of course, Remi-chan," he said gently. "Please, take your time. We're just…" He struggled for a word. "… relieved, to see you again."

"As am I," Remi replied, still feeling numb. She could barely pull her thoughts together.

All she had to do was make a vague allusion to being trafficked, and then state that she wasn't ready to say more—she doubted they would press for details. And then she could try to tell them some positives to put them at ease, like she had done with Ayuna.

She opened her mouth to speak, but then a young voice cut through the room. "Maman! Touchan!" Moments later a toddler burst into the room, tiny legs carrying him right towards Elodie.

Ayuna gasped and started forward, but in her surprise her hands just missed him. "Ah— wait!"

Elodie instantly let go of Tamahiro's hands, reaching out to scoop the toddler up. "Ah, mon caneton, ce n'est pas le bon moment." Her voice was soft and soothing, but frantic. She stood, taking a step towards Ayuna. "Tanaka-san—"

"Of course, ma'am," said Ayuna rapidly, stepping forward. "Please come with me, young master." Tamahiro had halfway stood from his seat, ready to take any action.

As Ayuna reached for the toddler, a harried woman opened the door. "My apologies, ma'am, I only looked away for a moment—" She cut herself off as she saw the woman in the armchair. Everyone paused then, the adults all looking towards Remi with alarm.

Remi's heart froze in her chest. All she could do was to stare at the small child. He had Tamahiro's dark hair and skin complexion. Male, so one day would be a better, more 'acceptable' heir to the family's legacy. And the timing…

Her mother hadn't been pregnant when she had been taken. Remi was certain of that. With all of the health issues surrounding her own birth, they had never tried for more siblings. So to try again…

Every muscle felt like a coiled spring. Remi's lungs burned, and she forcibly exhaled so she could suck in fresh air. Her eyes, wide and questioning, slowly drifted from the child's face to her mother's.

Elodie could only turn her face away and give a silent nod.

The child, however, looked over to Remi and studied her curiously, tilting his head. He lifted a hand to point. "Maman, c'est qui?"

Reaching out to gently fold the finger down, Elodie quietly tried to hush the child. "C'est pas poli, mon chéri."

The toddler withdrew his hand into his lap. "Pardon! C'est qui?"

A pained expression crossed Elodie's face as she glanced to Remi. Words died on her tongue as she struggled to form the sentence.

Remi stood, her gaze never leaving the toddler. Out of the corner of her eye, she clocked her father standing up straighter, and the sharp way his hand suddenly tensed, fingers curling into a fist. Remi stopped, and placed a hand on her chest. "Je suis ta grande sœur, Rémi. Et toi, tu es...?"

The toddler instantly responded with a bright reply of "Tamashi!" He lifted an arm to wave energetically. "Bonjour, Rémi!"

And a name that was utterly, distinctly Japanese. Of course. Remi forced a smile to her face. "Enchantée, Tamashi."

"Ma'am, please allow me," said the caretaker, stepping forward. "Come along, little one. Why don't we go get you ready for the New Year?" She quickly made an exit with Tamashi, and a silence fell over the room.

Ayuna took her position by the door. Elodie, Tamahiro, and Remi all sat, though none of them could look at each other.

Remi sagged. She was reaching for that hollowness now, the surge that had filled her muscles evaporating like mist. Thoughts and questions circled endlessly in her mind without resolution: How was she supposed to react to this? What was she supposed to say? What did this mean for her place in the family?

What kind of place ''could'' she possibly have had even without Tamashi present?

While Remi stewed in her thoughts, her parents retreated within themselves, no longer sitting quite as close on the couch. Tamahiro reached out to put a hand on Elodie's shoulder, but the latter silently shook it off, and the former drew his hand back to his lap.

When Elodie finally spoke again, her voice was quiet and trembling, and she still couldn't bring herself to look at her daughter. "I'm so sorry, my darling. We were going to tell you, just… not like that."

Flatly. "It's fine." It wasn't fine, but Remi didn't have anything left in her to sell the line. "It's…" She shook her head. "… I know now." When she looked up, it wasn't to her parents, but Ayuna. "Tanaka-san. Could I have something stiff to drink?"

Elodie sat up sharply, her voice full of reproach. "Remi-chan! Absolutely ''not''."

Remi didn't modulate her voice at all as she looked at her mother again. "Mother, I'm 23."

The words hit Elodie like a shock. She slumped backwards, hand covering her mouth. "… you are right. My apologies, dear. Tanaka-san, if you would be so kind, make that two."

"Of course, ma'am," said Ayuna crisply. "Ryuuja-san, for you as well?" Tamahiro nodded silently, and Ayuna gave a polite bow. "Very well. I will return momentarily."

A few moments later, each family member held a shot glass in hand. Remi stared into hers for a moment, studying the clear liquid within. She looked to her parents and raised her glass. "Cul sec." Without hesitating she tossed the glass back, draining it in one go. It burned on the way down, but Remi relished the sensation. Once it hit her gut the warmth spread through her body in a way that the fire still hadn't quite managed to do.

Both parents followed suit, and the three of them sat in silence afterwards.

Remi sat her glass down on a side table. "I should go. You doubtlessly have many preparations to make, and I have my own to see to, as well." The situation was too uncertain. Remi wasn't sure how she related to her parents anymore, to say nothing of her extended family, and the mere anticipation of prolonged social interactions was driving alarm bells in her mind.

Her instincts all screamed for retreat, and Remi couldn't disagree.

"Wait—" started Elodie, a bit too fast. "Are— Are you doing well?" Her eyes were full of fear, but also a small, desperate ember of hope.

Considering her mother for a moment, Remi slowly nodded. "As well as I can be, yes. I am… living my life."

Elodie let out a soft, shuddering breath. "Good, good. That's… all I wanted to know. We won't keep you, dear, just… we would like to be part of your life again. If there is space for us."

"Maman, I—" Remi's voice trembled slightly as she considered all the things that might mean. She glanced away. "I cannot be your heiress."

Tamahiro finally spoke up, leaning forward. His expression was still stern and stoic, but there was something that had softened subtly around the eyes. "We do not need you to be our heiress, Remi-chan. Just.. our daughter. If you would care to stay, we will celebrate the New Year with just the… four of us."

There'd been a slight hitch before her father had said 'four.' Remi mulled that thought over. "You have obligations," she pointed out. "It would not do for me to keep you from them." She still remembered how seriously her father took those kinds of things.

"Yes, I do," agreed Tamahiro with a short nod. "I do. But… I have an obligation to you, as well. You have a place here. Your mother and I both want you to know that." He glanced to his wife for confirmation, and Elodie nodded emphatically.

"Absolutely. We know things cannot be as they were, but we could never…" Elodie's voice caught in her throat. "We could never abandon our child."

Remi sat in silence. Part of her mind was still crafting escape routes—out into the hallway, a set of stairs in either direction; out the ''window'', onto the trellis—but she scrounged up the last of her mental reserves to try and set those worries aside. These were her ''parents''.

And what did she have to look forward to? A night spent alone, in her apartment, with no one but her plants to talk to? Drinking an entire bottle of wine herself in an attempt to drown out all the racing thoughts and endless concerns about her life?

She let out a long, weary sigh as she sagged into the chair. "… Maman, Papa, I… I would like to try. At least for tonight. I… happen to have a nice vintage of red wine with me. Perhaps we could share it?"

Tamahiro allowed himself a momentary smile. "Of course. And thank you, Remi-chan." His voice snapped back to crisp command a moment later. "Tanaka-san. Would you please contact my parents and extend them my deepest apologies? Tell them we will be by tomorrow."

"Of course, Ryuuja-san," said Ayuna with a deep bow. "I'll see to it right away." She started to turn, to leave, but paused when she heard Remi's voice.

"Tanaka-san," said Remi, finally looking up from her contemplations. She looked at her parents, then her long-time assistant. "When you finish that, if you happen to know of a spare otoshidama…? It would be much appreciated. I assume you know Tamashi-kun's tastes."

Ayuna offered Remi a warm smile and a bow of her head. "Of course, ojou-sama. I will return shortly." And with that she slipped out, leaving the room to silence and a crackling hearth.
</poem>

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

Ririka Kawase

2026-09-24T19:27:32Z

Talnora: Undo revision 5679 by Ayu (talk)

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Ririka Kawase'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Ririka Kawase (川瀬桃佳)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Hanged Man}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1995|07|17}} (July 17th 1995)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown-black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Red
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'7" /172 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| A
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Iwatodai Dorm, Iwatodai
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Second Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"... I'll carry on."''

Ririka was recognized from a very young age to have a prodigious talent for music, easily taking to and excelling at the piano starting in elementary school. Nowadays she has broadened her musical horizons, forming the rock band Polychord and making a new name for herself and her bandmates. But a recent awakening and a newfound knowledge of the supernatural has threatened to throw a lot of complications into her life. Ririka is dedicated and a hard worker, constantly practicing to improve her skills, and is dedicated to helping her band members shine as well. But the death of her older brother Toshiaki one and a half years ago has also left her grieving and determined to carry the weight of this grief alone, for fear of not living up to her sterling reputation... and the deep cracks in her foundation are starting to show. In supernatural spaces she acts as a Navigator, using her keen ear to sift through the static looking for the clear tones hidden within, and in combat she provides support and encouragement to her allies.

= Background =
From a very young age, Ririka was hailed as a prodigious musical talent, easily picking up and playing piano at a high level. She also displayed a talent for easily listening to and analyzing music as well. Her older brother, Toshiaki, was also recognized to be similarly talented academically, and the two of them because the standout talents of the Kawase family from their elementary school days. The attention and pressure that came with this recognition meant they formed a close bond... but unfortunately this meant their middle sister, Ichika, whose talents were not as visible, often went unnoticed.

In middle school Ririka expanded her musical ambitions. She didn't give up piano, of course, but she wanted to learn to play the guitar. Together with her childhood best friend Emi, she eventually assembled a group of musicians to have informal jam sessions with, who would then later take on the name Polychord. Ririka has since split her attention between her classical piano and rock band endeavors.

Toshiaki's sudden and unexpected death in September 2010 sent ripples through the family, and Ririka has never fully recovered from losing her closest supportive bond... not that most people would realize this, of course. Ririka grieved in all the appropriate ways, but then pretended to be okay and started trying to carry the burden of both her grief and her sterling reputation alone.

==Season 1, Episode 1==
Forthcoming

= Persona =
Ririka's Persona is Amphion!

Description: Amphion is a man made of polished dark gray stone with red LEDs for eyes, wrapped in a greek toga and wearing heavy boots wrapped in gold chains and padlocks that force him to take slow, lumbering steps. He wears a pair of large headphones around his neck, and carries a gleaming gold lyre with ephemeral strings that occasionally flicker into existence.

All Ririka has ever wanted to do was to reach out to other people with her music, often finding it easier to express herself that way than otherwise. Amphion helps her do this, enabling her to send her song and her thoughts to others in supernatural spaces. This makes her a Navigator, and she sifts through the signals of Resonance with the help of a pair of headphones Amphion places on her head.

= Special Skills =
Ririka is, of course, a notable musician. Piano was her first and still greatest love, but she is also skilled with a guitar, whether acoustic or electric. She's got a keen ear for listening to and breaking down musical compositions, and has also demonstrated perfect pitch.

She's also not too bad on a skateboard. It's pretty good stress relief, honestly.

Approaches:

1. Music Talk ''(Academics)'': Ririka might have a natural talent, but she's also practiced really hard to refine it, and more importantly, she's studied music extensively. She's also pretty broadly listened, so if you want music theory tidbits or random band trivia... she's got you covered.

2. Band Leader ''(Charm)'': Ririka has her shy, quiet, and reserved moments, to be sure... but a lifetime of performing has given her a well of show energy to tap into. After all, getting a crowd hyped up for a show is just as important as having good music to keep the energy going.

3. Impromptu Performance ''(Proficiency)'': Ririka loves music. Give her a piano or a guitar and she will happily play you a song on the spot. Give her a skateboard and she'll do a few quick tricks for you, too.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Ichika Kawase]]
| Nee-san, Ichika-nee
| {{Arcana|Temperance}}
| Older sister. I'm really glad I could trust you with my secret. I'm going to keep learning how to support you better, because I want to support you like Niichan would've.
|-
| [[Minato Arisato]]
| Arisato-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Classmate and SEES field leader. Really likes music, too.
|-
| [[Minako Arisato]]
| Arisato-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Classmate and SEES field leader. I don't know her that well, but she helped save my life.
|-
| [[Yukari Takeba]]
| Takeba-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| Classmate and SEES member. I know I screwed up, but I'm trying to do better. But I don't even know what you want from me.
|-
| [[Shizuka Kuroki]]
| Kuroki-senpai
| {{Arcana|Moon}}
| Senpai and SEES member. And... she apparently loves puns.
|-
| [[Hitomi Mandai]]
| Mandai-chan
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Senpai and SEES member. Thanks for welcoming me when I moved in.
|-
| [[Suzume Fukura]]
| Fukura-chan
| {{Arcana|Chariot}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're pretty good at fighting games, ''and'' you're repaired your own consoles? That's really cool.
|-
| [[Reiya Aomori]]
| Aomori-san
| {{Arcana|The Hermit}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're really good at following people, I've heard. That's... kinda weird, right?
|-
| [[Moriko Kumamoto]]
| Kumamoto-chan
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You ride a motorcycle, and that's awesome. I wanna try riding it sometime.
|-
| [[Koh Katsuhiro]]
| Katsuhiro-san
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Classmate and SEES member. Hey, a fellow music lover, awesome.
|-
| [[Tsubasa Seki]]
| Seki-san
| {{Arcana|Devil}}
| Kasu student. You gave me some good advice for helping my sister, and... it's good to know other people are looking out for Ichika-chan, too. Thanks.
|-
| [[Tyler Gould]]
| Tyler-kun (reluctantly)
| {{Arcana|The Hermit}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're actually pretty fun to jam with, but... geeze, I wish you'd stop referring to me yobisute. We don't know each other that well.
|-
| [[Ayame Watanabe]]
| Watanabe-san
| {{Arcana|Death}}
| A woman I met in Sumaru... and that I watched Awaken. I hope you and your husband are going to be okay, with the Joker Killer after you now...
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro|Yumi]]
| Yumi, Battle Bride
| {{Arcana|???}}
| A dangerous Evoker user. I don't know what you were doing at the TV studio... or why you taught me to use Analysis?
|-
| [[Eikichi Mishina]]
| Mishina-san
| {{Arcana|Death}}
| Kasu student and the Death Boss, I guess? Great stage presence, but... you gotta support your band members if you want them to support you, too.
|-
| [[Ichika Kawase|Ogre]]
| Ogre
| {{Arcana|???}}
| A masked Persona User. Look, if Ichika-chan trusts you, that's good enough for me. I just... is 'justice' really your only motivation for helping my sister?
|-
| [[Fuuka Yamagishi]]
| Yamagishi-san
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Classmate, SEES member, and fellow Navigator! It's nice to know I'll have someone to talk to about these new senses... and it was really cool of you to take video for my band, too!
|-
| [[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
| Kirijo-senpai
| {{Arcana|The Empress}}
| School council president and SEES Leader. You're ''really'' cool, and graceful, and stylish, and... well, the fact that you ride and work on your own motorcycle is '''awesome'''.
|-
| [[So-young Park]]
| Park-sensei
| {{Arcana|The Sun}}
| Amazing conductor and kind of a music rebel. The work you do mixing genres and styles of music is really inspirational! ... Just please don't break too much stuff or cause any disasters? I think you were kidding, but... I'm not sure.
|-
| [[Myunghon Yeo]]
| Yeo-san, Merry-san
| {{Arcana|The Devil}}
| Rumormonger. If you're looking out for people in Sumaru, then... I want to help, too. There's people I care about out there. And thanks for the free Agi card, I'll put it to good use.
|-
| [[Niko Kirisaki]]
| Kirisaki
| {{Arcana|The Moon}}
| Strega member. We aren't friends. I don't know why you think we are, but... we're not.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| Toshiaki Kawase
| Toshi-nii
| {{Arcana|Strength}}
| My older brother. Toshikun, there's... there's not a day that goes by where I don't think about you. I'm trying to follow your example but it's just... it's so hard to go on without you sometimes.
|}

= Logs and Cutscenes =

== Season 1 ==

=== Episode 1 ===
{{User:Talnora/LogList|Ririka Kawase|Season 1, Episode 1}}

=== Episode 2 ===
{{User:Talnora/LogList|Ririka Kawase|Season 1, Episode 2}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:SEES]]

Ririka Kawase

2026-09-24T19:27:17Z

Talnora: Undo revision 5740 by Ayu (talk)

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Ririka Kawase'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Ririka Kawase (川瀬桃佳)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Hanged Man}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1995|07|17}} (July 17th 1995)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown-black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Red
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'7" /172 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| A
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Iwatodai Dorm, Iwatodai
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Second Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"... I'll carry on."''

Ririka was recognized from a very young age to have a prodigious talent for music, easily taking to and excelling at the piano starting in elementary school. Nowadays she has broadened her musical horizons, forming the rock band Polychord and making a new name for herself and her bandmates. But a recent awakening and a newfound knowledge of the supernatural has threatened to throw a lot of complications into her life. Ririka is dedicated and a hard worker, constantly practicing to improve her skills, and is dedicated to helping her band members shine as well. But the death of her older brother Toshiaki one and a half years ago has also left her grieving and determined to carry the weight of this grief alone, for fear of not living up to her sterling reputation... and the deep cracks in her foundation are starting to show. In supernatural spaces she acts as a Navigator, using her keen ear to sift through the static looking for the clear tones hidden within, and in combat she provides support and encouragement to her allies.

= Background =
From a very young age, Ririka was hailed as a prodigious musical talent, easily picking up and playing piano at a high level. She also displayed a talent for easily listening to and analyzing music as well. Her older brother, Toshiaki, was also recognized to be similarly talented academically, and the two of them because the standout talents of the Kawase family from their elementary school days. The attention and pressure that came with this recognition meant they formed a close bond... but unfortunately this meant their middle sister, Ichika, whose talents were not as visible, often went unnoticed.

In middle school Ririka expanded her musical ambitions. She didn't give up piano, of course, but she wanted to learn to play the guitar. Together with her childhood best friend Emi, she eventually assembled a group of musicians to have informal jam sessions with, who would then later take on the name Polychord. Ririka has since split her attention between her classical piano and rock band endeavors.

Toshiaki's sudden and unexpected death in September 2010 sent ripples through the family, and Ririka has never fully recovered from losing her closest supportive bond... not that most people would realize this, of course. Ririka grieved in all the appropriate ways, but then pretended to be okay and started trying to carry the burden of both her grief and her sterling reputation alone.

==Season 1, Episode 1==
Forthcoming

= Persona =
Ririka's Persona is Amphion!

Description: Amphion is a man made of polished dark gray stone with red LEDs for eyes, wrapped in a greek toga and wearing heavy boots wrapped in gold chains and padlocks that force him to take slow, lumbering steps. He wears a pair of large headphones around his neck, and carries a gleaming gold lyre with ephemeral strings that occasionally flicker into existence.

All Ririka has ever wanted to do was to reach out to other people with her music, often finding it easier to express herself that way than otherwise. Amphion helps her do this, enabling her to send her song and her thoughts to others in supernatural spaces. This makes her a Navigator, and she sifts through the signals of Resonance with the help of a pair of headphones Amphion places on her head.

= Special Skills =
Ririka is, of course, a notable musician. Piano was her first and still greatest love, but she is also skilled with a guitar, whether acoustic or electric. She's got a keen ear for listening to and breaking down musical compositions, and has also demonstrated perfect pitch.

She's also not too bad on a skateboard. It's pretty good stress relief, honestly.

Approaches:

1. Music Talk ''(Academics)'': Ririka might have a natural talent, but she's also practiced really hard to refine it, and more importantly, she's studied music extensively. She's also pretty broadly listened, so if you want music theory tidbits or random band trivia... she's got you covered.

2. Band Leader ''(Charm)'': Ririka has her shy, quiet, and reserved moments, to be sure... but a lifetime of performing has given her a well of show energy to tap into. After all, getting a crowd hyped up for a show is just as important as having good music to keep the energy going.

3. Impromptu Performance ''(Proficiency)'': Ririka loves music. Give her a piano or a guitar and she will happily play you a song on the spot. Give her a skateboard and she'll do a few quick tricks for you, too.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Ichika Kawase]]
| Nee-san, Ichika-nee
| {{Arcana|Temperance}}
| Older sister. I'm really glad I could trust you with my secret. I'm going to keep learning how to support you better, because I want to support you like Niichan would've.
|-
| [[Minato Arisato]]
| Arisato-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Classmate and SEES field leader. Really likes music, too.
|-
| [[Minako Arisato]]
| Arisato-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Classmate and SEES field leader. I don't know her that well, but she helped save my life.
|-
| [[Yukari Takeba]]
| Takeba-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| Classmate and SEES member. I know I screwed up, but I'm trying to do better. But I don't even know what you want from me.
|-
| [[Shizuka Kuroki]]
| Kuroki-senpai
| {{Arcana|Moon}}
| Senpai and SEES member. And... she apparently loves puns.
|-
| [[Hitomi Mandai]]
| Mandai-chan
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Senpai and SEES member. Thanks for welcoming me when I moved in.
|-
| [[Suzume Fukura]]
| Fukura-chan
| {{Arcana|Chariot}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're pretty good at fighting games, ''and'' you're repaired your own consoles? That's really cool.
|-
| [[Reiya Aomori]]
| Aomori-san
| {{Arcana|The Hermit}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're really good at following people, I've heard. That's... kinda weird, right?
|-
| [[Moriko Kumamoto]]
| Kumamoto-chan
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You ride a motorcycle, and that's awesome. I wanna try riding it sometime.
|-
| [[Koh Katsuhiro]]
| Katsuhiro-san
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Classmate and SEES member. Hey, a fellow music lover, awesome.
|-
| [[Tsubasa Seki]]
| Seki-san
| {{Arcana|Devil}}
| Kasu student. You gave me some good advice for helping my sister, and... it's good to know other people are looking out for Ichika-chan, too. Thanks.
|-
| [[Tyler Gould]]
| Tyler-kun (reluctantly)
| {{Arcana|The Hermit}}
| Classmate and SEES member. You're actually pretty fun to jam with, but... geeze, I wish you'd stop referring to me yobisute. We don't know each other that well.
|-
| [[Ayame Watanabe]]
| Watanabe-san
| {{Arcana|Death}}
| A woman I met in Sumaru... and that I watched Awaken. I hope you and your husband are going to be okay, with the Joker Killer after you now...
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro|Yumi]]
| Yumi, Battle Bride
| {{Arcana|???}}
| A dangerous Evoker user. I don't know what you were doing at the TV studio... or why you taught me to use Analysis?
|-
| [[Eikichi Mishina]]
| Mishina-san
| {{Arcana|Death}}
| Kasu student and the Death Boss, I guess? Great stage presence, but... you gotta support your band members if you want them to support you, too.
|-
| [[Ichika Kawase|Ogre]]
| Ogre
| {{Arcana|???}}
| A masked Persona User. Look, if Ichika-chan trusts you, that's good enough for me. I just... is 'justice' really your only motivation for helping my sister?
|-
| [[Fuuka Yamagishi]]
| Yamagishi-san
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Classmate, SEES member, and fellow Navigator! It's nice to know I'll have someone to talk to about these new senses... and it was really cool of you to take video for my band, too!
|-
| [[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
| Kirijo-senpai
| {{Arcana|The Empress}}
| School council president and SEES Leader. You're ''really'' cool, and graceful, and stylish, and... well, the fact that you ride and work on your own motorcycle is '''awesome'''.
|-
| [[So-young Park]]
| Park-sensei
| {{Arcana|The Sun}}
| Amazing conductor and kind of a music rebel. The work you do mixing genres and styles of music is really inspirational! ... Just please don't break too much stuff or cause any disasters? I think you were kidding, but... I'm not sure.
|-
| [[Myunghon Yeo]]
| Yeo-san, Merry-san
| {{Arcana|The Devil}}
| Rumormonger. If you're looking out for people in Sumaru, then... I want to help, too. There's people I care about out there. And thanks for the free Agi card, I'll put it to good use.
|-
| [[Niko Kirisaki]]
| Kirisaki
| {{Arcana|The Moon}}
| Strega member. We aren't friends. I don't know why you think we are, but... we're not.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| Toshiaki Kawase
| Toshi-nii
| {{Arcana|Strength}}
| My older brother. Toshikun, there's... there's not a day that goes by where I don't think about you. I'm trying to follow your example but it's just... it's so hard to go on without you sometimes.
|}

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1==
===Episode 1===
<div style="column-count: 3;">
{{#dpl:
|category=logs
|category=Season 1, Episode 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
</div>
===Episode 2===
<div style="column-count: 3;">
{{#dpl:
|category=logs
|category=Season 1, Episode 2
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
</div>

==Season 1 Cutscenes==

{{#dpl:
|category = cutscenes&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
</div>

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:SEES]]

Remi Ryuuja

2026-09-24T19:26:03Z

Talnora: Undo revision 5678 by Ayu (talk)

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Remi Ryuuja'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Remi Ryuuja (竜者麗珠)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Tower}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1989|10|28}} (Oct 28, 1989)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Strological Sign:
| Scorpio
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Honey blonde
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown with green flecks
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'6" /168 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| B
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Aoba Ward, Sumaru
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| The Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Chief Lieutenant
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Nemesis
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Velvet Room MUSH (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[New World Order]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"Get out of my way or I'll cut you down."''

Remi is the daughter of a French businesswoman and a Japanese corporate lawyer, and it was always assumed that she would step into the family business,Délices Montagnards, one day. But shortly after starting college she vanished from public life. Now, three and a half years later, she has suddenly reappeared, but she seems to be keeping herself distant from her family, and evasive about what she has been up to all this time. Her parents are keeping quiet as well, but the arrival of a new son has some wondering if Remi might have been disowned, a perception not helped by Remi taking an 'ordinary' job at the Cardboard Dragon. Remi used to be known as both a talented actress and a superbly talented fencer, but also used to enjoy a life of status and privilege she is seemingly now going without. The truth of her situation, however, is far darker than it appears: The New World Order kidnapped her and turned her into an Artificial Persona User, making her a weapon for their purposes. Now assigned to her high school friend Miho as an asset, Remi is searching for a way to reclaim agency in her life and escape the NWO's clutches.

= Background =
Remi was born to a life of luxury, the daughter of a wealthy French CEO and a respected Japanese corporate lawyer. She grew up with the expectation that she would one day take over the family's business, but until that fateful day arrived, she would be free to live her life as she chose, as long as she kept up the proper decorum, of course.

She grew up used to a life of refinement and culture. Japanes culture, certainly, but also French. While she was born and raised in Japan, she adored her (very frequent) trips to France, and one of her earliest loves was French literature. (She has read The Three Musketeers in the original French, thank you). From there she picked up a love of adventurous swashbuckling tales, and branched into fencing and Drama Club to satisfy the urge to act out those stories, and would even find HEMA workshops to engage in on her frequent trips to France.

When she started attending Seven Sisters High School, she would meet several students who would go on to become her closest friends. Myunghon Yeo she bonded with over a shared love of literature. Miho she would cross sabers with in Fencing Club. And Yua she would meet in second year, when Remi's Drama partnered with Yua's Dance club to put on ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''.

Notably, Yua would play Titania to Remi's Oberon. Remi often sought out the male roles, those that she found interesting or those that would give her a chance to do some memorable stage combat. And for her last year, she wanted a chance to perform a classic role: Romeo, in ''Romeo and Juliet''. She won the role, and caused a stir when she and Honoka Wasa, playing Juliet, had such good stage chemistry it caused some speculation and rumor. However, both of them flatly dnied there was anything more than that.

Remi graduated high school and moved on to college, as expected, putting her love of drama and fencing mostly behind. She took a trip to visit Miho at the 2008 Olympics... but then promptly vanished from the public eye.

She had been investigating the disappearance of Yua and attracted the wrong kind of attention, being kidnapped and taken to the same blacksite lab her friend was at. There she was forced to Awaken to an artificial Persona, and forced to undergo brutal experiments and conditioning to make her into an NWO asset.

Eventually, three and a half years later, she was discharged into Miho's custody, to serve the NWO alongside Yua as the black-suited fencer 'Tsurugi.' She is also reconnecting with Myunghon, working for them at the Cardboard Dragon, though of course, this carries its own dangers and complications...

==Season 1, Episode 1==
Forthcoming

= Persona =
Remi's Persona is La Maupin.

Description: La Maupin is a shadowy, androgynous figure in a crimson red leather straightjacket with gold studs; the sleeves are unbound, and though the sleeve they clutch a chipped rapier, letting the excess length swing free. They also wear an ornate but tattered red hat and a flaking gold masquerade mask.

= Special Skills =
Remi is pretty handy with a sword, experienced in both sport fencing with a saber, but using a rapier and main gauche in HEMA style fighting. She is also a talented actress, capable of adapting herself to various kinds of roles.

Approaches:

1. Flattery ''(Charm)'': Why bully someone into giving you what you want, when you can make them think it was their idea to begin with? A gentle compliment can go a long way.

2. Unflinching Stare ''(Guts)'': Remi's experiences in the lab have hardened her. She has been forced to fight countess Shadows, and can stare one down without flinching... whether she likes it or not.

3. Dramatis Persona ''(Proficiency)'': Remi always sought to combine her love for stagecraft and combat, with the culmination of both represented in this approach.

= Relationships =

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Miho Ijuuin]]
| Miho, Miyu
| {{Arcana|The Emperor}}
| Trusted friend. It seems we are more alike than I ever realized... it makes me wish I had said something sooner. But... I will try to share my burdens more, as surely as I shoulder those of others.
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro]]
| Yua-chan, Yumi
| {{Arcana|The Empress}}
| Trusted friend. If a Knight is the role I am to play for you, then... I shall play it to the utmost, my Lady.
|-
| [[Myunghon Yeo]]
| Myunghon, Merry
| {{Arcana|The Devil}}
| Trusted friend. Myunghon... I fear I do not understand you half as well as you deserve. But that is my failing, not yours.
|-
| [[Shinobu Shimizu]]
| Shimizu-san
| {{Arcana|Hanged Man}}
| Associate. You have done well by Myunghon... please do for them the things I cannot. I have let you a glimpse behind Ariel's mask, but Tsurugi's must remain in place.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro#Tiger|Tiger]]
| Tiger
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Ah, but that I could steal you away for myself, for you are warm and affectionate in equal measure. How cruel a truth it is that I am no better equipped to care for you than I am myself, some days.
|-
| [[Junya Kaneshiro]]
| Sac à merde
| {{Arcana|Hierophant}}
| You are brought low... and still I am not satisfied. It sickens me that I had to protect you, however indirectly. It sickens me more that you have highlighted some of my shortcomings.
|-
| Koichi Ishiba
| ...
| {{Arcana|?}}
| What a singularly disgusting, revolting person--and I hesitate to even call you a ''person''. I, too, know what it is to be caught up in 'bigger things'... but I still yearn to claw my way out, rather than wallow in wretchedness.
|}

= Logs and Cutscenes =

== Season 1 ==

=== Episode 1 ===
{{User:Talnora/LogList|Remi Ryuuja|Season 1, Episode 1}}

=== Episode 2 ===
{{User:Talnora/LogList|Remi Ryuuja|Season 1, Episode 2}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:New World Order]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]
[[Category:Focus]]

Remi Ryuuja

2026-09-24T19:25:25Z

Talnora: Undo revision 5738 by Ayu (talk)

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Remi Ryuuja'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Remi Ryuuja (竜者麗珠)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Tower}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1989|10|28}} (Oct 28, 1989)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Strological Sign:
| Scorpio
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Honey blonde
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown with green flecks
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'6" /168 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| B
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Aoba Ward, Sumaru
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| The Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Chief Lieutenant
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Nemesis
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Velvet Room MUSH (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[New World Order]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"Get out of my way or I'll cut you down."''

Remi is the daughter of a French businesswoman and a Japanese corporate lawyer, and it was always assumed that she would step into the family business,Délices Montagnards, one day. But shortly after starting college she vanished from public life. Now, three and a half years later, she has suddenly reappeared, but she seems to be keeping herself distant from her family, and evasive about what she has been up to all this time. Her parents are keeping quiet as well, but the arrival of a new son has some wondering if Remi might have been disowned, a perception not helped by Remi taking an 'ordinary' job at the Cardboard Dragon. Remi used to be known as both a talented actress and a superbly talented fencer, but also used to enjoy a life of status and privilege she is seemingly now going without. The truth of her situation, however, is far darker than it appears: The New World Order kidnapped her and turned her into an Artificial Persona User, making her a weapon for their purposes. Now assigned to her high school friend Miho as an asset, Remi is searching for a way to reclaim agency in her life and escape the NWO's clutches.

= Background =
Remi was born to a life of luxury, the daughter of a wealthy French CEO and a respected Japanese corporate lawyer. She grew up with the expectation that she would one day take over the family's business, but until that fateful day arrived, she would be free to live her life as she chose, as long as she kept up the proper decorum, of course.

She grew up used to a life of refinement and culture. Japanes culture, certainly, but also French. While she was born and raised in Japan, she adored her (very frequent) trips to France, and one of her earliest loves was French literature. (She has read The Three Musketeers in the original French, thank you). From there she picked up a love of adventurous swashbuckling tales, and branched into fencing and Drama Club to satisfy the urge to act out those stories, and would even find HEMA workshops to engage in on her frequent trips to France.

When she started attending Seven Sisters High School, she would meet several students who would go on to become her closest friends. Myunghon Yeo she bonded with over a shared love of literature. Miho she would cross sabers with in Fencing Club. And Yua she would meet in second year, when Remi's Drama partnered with Yua's Dance club to put on ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''.

Notably, Yua would play Titania to Remi's Oberon. Remi often sought out the male roles, those that she found interesting or those that would give her a chance to do some memorable stage combat. And for her last year, she wanted a chance to perform a classic role: Romeo, in ''Romeo and Juliet''. She won the role, and caused a stir when she and Honoka Wasa, playing Juliet, had such good stage chemistry it caused some speculation and rumor. However, both of them flatly dnied there was anything more than that.

Remi graduated high school and moved on to college, as expected, putting her love of drama and fencing mostly behind. She took a trip to visit Miho at the 2008 Olympics... but then promptly vanished from the public eye.

She had been investigating the disappearance of Yua and attracted the wrong kind of attention, being kidnapped and taken to the same blacksite lab her friend was at. There she was forced to Awaken to an artificial Persona, and forced to undergo brutal experiments and conditioning to make her into an NWO asset.

Eventually, three and a half years later, she was discharged into Miho's custody, to serve the NWO alongside Yua as the black-suited fencer 'Tsurugi.' She is also reconnecting with Myunghon, working for them at the Cardboard Dragon, though of course, this carries its own dangers and complications...

==Season 1, Episode 1==
Forthcoming

= Persona =
Remi's Persona is La Maupin.

Description: La Maupin is a shadowy, androgynous figure in a crimson red leather straightjacket with gold studs; the sleeves are unbound, and though the sleeve they clutch a chipped rapier, letting the excess length swing free. They also wear an ornate but tattered red hat and a flaking gold masquerade mask.

= Special Skills =
Remi is pretty handy with a sword, experienced in both sport fencing with a saber, but using a rapier and main gauche in HEMA style fighting. She is also a talented actress, capable of adapting herself to various kinds of roles.

Approaches:

1. Flattery ''(Charm)'': Why bully someone into giving you what you want, when you can make them think it was their idea to begin with? A gentle compliment can go a long way.

2. Unflinching Stare ''(Guts)'': Remi's experiences in the lab have hardened her. She has been forced to fight countess Shadows, and can stare one down without flinching... whether she likes it or not.

3. Dramatis Persona ''(Proficiency)'': Remi always sought to combine her love for stagecraft and combat, with the culmination of both represented in this approach.

= Relationships =

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Miho Ijuuin]]
| Miho, Miyu
| {{Arcana|The Emperor}}
| Trusted friend. It seems we are more alike than I ever realized... it makes me wish I had said something sooner. But... I will try to share my burdens more, as surely as I shoulder those of others.
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro]]
| Yua-chan, Yumi
| {{Arcana|The Empress}}
| Trusted friend. If a Knight is the role I am to play for you, then... I shall play it to the utmost, my Lady.
|-
| [[Myunghon Yeo]]
| Myunghon, Merry
| {{Arcana|The Devil}}
| Trusted friend. Myunghon... I fear I do not understand you half as well as you deserve. But that is my failing, not yours.
|-
| [[Shinobu Shimizu]]
| Shimizu-san
| {{Arcana|Hanged Man}}
| Associate. You have done well by Myunghon... please do for them the things I cannot. I have let you a glimpse behind Ariel's mask, but Tsurugi's must remain in place.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Yua Ooshiro#Tiger|Tiger]]
| Tiger
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| Ah, but that I could steal you away for myself, for you are warm and affectionate in equal measure. How cruel a truth it is that I am no better equipped to care for you than I am myself, some days.
|-
| [[Junya Kaneshiro]]
| Sac à merde
| {{Arcana|Hierophant}}
| You are brought low... and still I am not satisfied. It sickens me that I had to protect you, however indirectly. It sickens me more that you have highlighted some of my shortcomings.
|-
| Koichi Ishiba
| ...
| {{Arcana|?}}
| What a singularly disgusting, revolting person--and I hesitate to even call you a ''person''. I, too, know what it is to be caught up in 'bigger things'... but I still yearn to claw my way out, rather than wallow in wretchedness.
|}

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1==
===Episode 1===
<div style="column-count: 3;">
{{#dpl:
|category=logs
|category=Season 1, Episode 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
</div>
===Episode 2===
<div style="column-count: 3;">
{{#dpl:
|category=logs
|category=Season 1, Episode 2
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
</div>

==Season 1 Cutscenes==

{{#dpl:
|category = cutscenes&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
</div>

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:New World Order]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]
[[Category:Nemesis]]

Kazusa Motojima

2026-09-24T19:20:21Z

Talnora: Undo revision 5656 by Ayu (talk)

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''Kazusa Motojima'''
|-

|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kazusa Motojima (元島和紗)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Strength}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female (she/her)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1995|05|11}} (May 11, 1995)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Purple
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'2" /157 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| AB
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Shibuya Ward, Tokyo
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Shujin Academy
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Second Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#87d7ff; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#000000">'''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Persona Syzygy]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| None
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Talnora|Talnora]]
|-
|}

''"You call'' that ''an outfit?"''

Behind her back, people call Kazusa the Demon Queen of Shujin... and she doesn't care. Kazusa is rich, popular, stylish, and a star of Shujin's Rhythmic Gymnastics team. She has followers who hang on her every word, but for those who don't fit the mold of what's 'acceptable' she can be vicious and cruel. And of course, most people know her last name from the Motojima Corporation, makers of video games and home electronics. (Not that Kazusa would be caught dead playing a video game, mind you.) Kazusa does genuinely put in the hard work for (most) of what she has, and she demands excellence from those around her, but this can also lead her to being impatient and short-tempered for those who can't keep up. What most people don't know, however, is her cruel demeanor masks a creative and passionate heart, one stifled under the rigid expectations placed upon her.

= Background =
Kazusa was born to a family legacy: she is a daughter of the Motohima family, who owns the Motojima Corporation, a well-known manufacturer of consumer electronics, consoles, and video games.

Her grandparents, Shigeki and Kae Motojima, are two notable figures in Motojima Corporation's history. As a programmer and artist duo, they made some of the earliest arcade cabinets and console games, helping expand the Motojima Corporation's influence and standing. Kazusa dearly wants to follow in their footsteps, but has faced a constant rodeblock: her father.

Kazuki Motojima is not on good terms with his parents, criticizing their creative efforts and, by extension, his daughter's ambitions. He is the current CFO of the Motojima Corporation, and carries a no-nonsense attitude besides.

Kazusa entered Shujin Academy's system starting with her first year of middle school, and immediately joined the Rhythmic gymnastics club. She also met Wakana Oosaka, a girl who would become her best friend... and eventual semi-lackey. Kazusa's talents for Rhythmic Gymnastics gained her notice, as did her family's wealth and status, combined with an on-point fashion sense.

She became popular... but as she weathered the negative influences of her father, all of that strain and criticism started to be reflected outwards. Starting to criticize anybody who stood out didn't conform to the norms, this habit grew more and more until the students started whispering a name behind her back; "Demon Queen."

==Season 1, Episode 1==

In her 2nd year of high school, Kazusa's reign as the Demon Queen has continued unabated. However, over the summer break, something happened.

Rumor has it Kazusa was caught out ''in cosplay'' at a local video game convention, and by her father no less. The rumor mill has started circulatihg the news, with some unwilling to believe the serious, no-nonsense Demon Queen could be caught up in something so nerdy, and others glad to see her taken down a peg.

But nobody was prepared for what would come next: When the Fall Semester started, Kazusa came back... a lot nicer, as well as a lot brighter and chipper. One would be hard-pressed to reconcile this new version of her with her previous attitude, and there's a good reason for that.

Any Persona User who notices her can tell that the thing wearing Kazusa's skin is definitely '''not human'''. She is, in fact, a [[Homunculus]]... but really, isn't this version of her much nicer?



= Special Skills =
Kazusa is an expert at spending her father's money, or so it seems. She is legitimately a talented member of Shujin's Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.

Approaches:

1. Fashion Talk ''(Academics)'': You've gotta stay up with the latest trends, right? Getting caught in last season's fashions is ''such'' a loser move.

2. Demon Queen ''(Charm)'': Love her or hate her (and plenty of people do the latter), Kazusa's got a commanding presence.

3. Rhythm and Flow ''(Proficiency)'': Kazusa has spent a long time doing rhythmic gymnastcis, and she has the grace and agility to go with it.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Address
! scope="col" | Arcana
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Info
|-
| [[Hazuki Nakao]]
| Nakao-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| So you were that girl in the atelier... why can't I stop thinking about you?
|-
| [[Hazuki Nakao|MorningStarGirl]]
| MorningStarGirl
| {{Arcana|???}}
| You're pretty skilled at Night Parade... and weirdly, talking to you is really easy, sometimes.
|-
| [[Fuuka Yamagishi]]
| Yamagishi-san
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Thanks for keeping my sketchbook safe... I guess if you ever want to talk about tech sometime...
|-
| [[Ren Amamiya]]
| Amamiya-san
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| Doing the right thing, even when it's hard... I still don't understand you, but... maybe there's more to you than just the 'criminal delinquent' the rumors talk about.
|-
| [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]]
| Yoshizawa-san
| {{Arcana|Star}}
| You look like you're doing better, at least. Good. I've... got enough to worry about.
|-
| [[Ann Takamaki]]
| Takamaki-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| I've been thinking about what Amamiya-san said about you... hmm.
|-
| [[Shinjiro Aragaki]]
| I don't even know your name.
| {{Arcana|Hierophant}}
| How did someone like ''you'' become a Peacock Silk customer? And what's with that coat?
|-
| [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]]
| Yoshinaga-senpai
| {{Arcana|Emperor}}
| I don't know what it is you want, but... get to the point.
|-
| [[Ryuji Sakamoto]]
| Sakamoto-san
| {{Arcana|Chariot}}
| I wish you hadn't put yourself at risk for me, but... you were the only one who tried to step in. I'll remember that.
|-
| [[Kanae Fuyuki]]
| Kanae-chan
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
| So... we're friends now. Um. Thanks. I'll try to be a good friend to you.
|-
| [[Makoto Niijima]]
| Niijima-senpai
| {{Arcana|Priestess}}
| Were you deliberately trying to provoke that thing!? What is ''wrong'' with you??
|-
| [[Haru Okumura]]
| Definitely Okumura-senpai
| {{Arcana|Empress}}
| So you like those kinds of movies, huh... well, glad to know I'm not the only one.
|-
| [[Moriko Kumamoto]]
| Kumamoto-san
| {{Arcana|Fortune}}
| I still can't believe you took that picture, but... the stew wasn't half bad, I guess...
|-
| [[Shinichi Nagisa]]
| Nagisa-san
| {{Arcana|Magician}}
| ... We'll get the real you back. Promise. I won't leave you there any longer than I have to.
|-
| [[Roger]]
| Roger-san
| {{Arcana|Lovers}}
| I'm still upset that you endangered Wakana-chan, but... I shouldn't have snapped at you.
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

=== Family ===

'''Kazuki Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Emperor}}): Kazusa's father and the current CFO of the Motojima Corporation. Very stern, and does not see much value in creative vocations, much less his daughter's desire to pursue them; he would much rather Kazusa pursue Rhythmic Gymnastics. Has been verbally abusive of Kazusa's desires and 'unfeminine' traits, leading to her being taken over by a Homunculus. Openly pleased about the Homunculus version of Kazusa and how she seems to be a lot more compliant to his wishes.

'''Karin Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Hierophant}}): Kazusa's mother. She is a quiet, soft-spoken woman, who comports herself in a far more traditional way. Her family owns a small flower shop, where she learned the art of flower arrangement. She also performs traditional tea ceremonies and practices calligraphy. She has aligned herself with Kazuki in encouraging her daughter to seek a more traditional path, even if her approach is gentler on its surface.

'''Kazuhiro Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Moon}}): Kazusa's younger brother by about a year. A first-year at Shujin Academy and a member of its basketball team. Quietly looks out for his sister. Kazusa may openly draw the most open ire from their father, but he hasn't escaped unscathed either. He's learned to hide his own interests, putting on an air of 'one of the guys' to escape scrutiny from Kazuki. As children they used to be closer but drifted apart due to the pressure and strain. But Kazuhiro helped Kazusa out while she was a Homunculus, at risk to himself, and now both siblings have pledged to support each other against their parents.

'''Shigeki Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Magician}}): Kazusa's paternal grandfather. He was one of the earliest programmers for the Motojima Corporation and helped create some of their earliest arcade cabinets and then console games in the 70's and 80's, going on to become a storied producer behind many of the Motojima Corporation's biggest franchises such as Night Parade. He is a boistrous figure when speaking publicly. Doesn't have a great relationship with his son Kazuki.

'''Kae Motojima''' ({{Arcana|Empress}}): Kazusa's paternal grandmother. She started at the Motojima Corporation as a graphic artist/designer, but embraced new mediums as they developed which led to her working on some of the Motojima Corporation's earliest video games. She helped pioneer new techniques in digitial art, and over time worked her way up to being an art director for their interactive entertainment division. She and Shigeki met when working on the earliest video games and quickly became a power couple. She is trying to mend her relationship with Shigeki while also taking a firm stance against his treatment of her grandchildren.

'''Motojima Corporation''': The Motojima Corporation is a family-owned company that has grown rapidly over the past few decades. They are primarily known for producing consumer electronics as well as video game consoles, games, and arcade cabinets, as well as other related technologies. They have many long-running popular franchises, including the fighting game series Night Parade.

=== Friends ===

'''Wakana Oosaka''' ({{Arcana|Star}}): Kazusa's closest friend, and the one most privy to her private ambitions... but also all of her reflected negativity. She is a second year student at Shujin Academy, in the same class as Kazusa, and is also a member of the Rhythmic Gymnastics team. Both of them have been practicing Rhythmic Gymnastics together since elementary school, in fact, and Wakana knows that the version of Kazusa that people know as the Demon Queen isn't the way she's always been. She's offered Kazusa chance after chance, even as their relationship strained... but something shifted when [[2026-02-24:_Fair-weather_Friend|Kazusa's Homunculus threatened her]]. The genuine Kazusa has now [[2026-03-14:_Letting_Go,_Holding_On|offered the apology she always deserved]], but while Wakana has accepted the apology as genuine... she isn't ready to offer trust again so readily. Right now they're on a break, and Kazusa is doing her best to give Wakana the space she needs. (Which is difficult, considering they're in the same class and club together.)

= Logs and Cutscenes =

== Season 1 ==

=== Episode 1 ===
{{User:Talnora/LogList|Kazusa Motojima|Season 1, Episode 1}}

=== Episode 2 ===
{{User:Talnora/LogList|Kazusa Motojima|Season 1, Episode 2}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Shujin Academy]]
[[Category:Focus]]

2026-09-24: Retrouvailles

2026-09-24T19:00:00Z

Talnora: Thomas Wolfe was right.

*'''Cutscene: Retrouvailles'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Remi Ryuuja]], Ayuna Tanaka (family assistant), Elodie Rochefort (mother), Tamahiro Ryuuja (father)
*'''Where:''' Narumi Ward, Sumaru - First a mall, then the Ryuuja estate
*'''OOC Date:''' September 24, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, December 31, 2012 (New Year's Eve)
*'''Summary:''' ''Remi's plans for a solitary New Year's are made unexpectedly complicated when she runs into elements of her pre-capture life that she had been avoiding. And a subsequent trip home becomes far more complex than she could have imagined.''
*'''Content Warning:''' Some depictions of the results of Remi's lab conditioning
----
<poem>
Winter was a miserable season. Remi hadn't always thought so, of course, but there was no denying how the bitter cold air could infect her blood through her lungs, and how it would latch onto the marrow of her bones and never let go. And yet it was a strange salve, in its own way. An almost singular sensation in the ocean of numbness and detachment she had come to associate with her body. Even when she did her best to combat it, wearing layers upon layers, and a thick coat, hat, scarf, and gloves, she would still shiver uncontrollably from time to time.

It couldn't be helped. And thus it was also not worth worrying about, not when she was busy scanning and evaluating the crowds of people in the mall around her. It was a cacophony of sound and movement, an ever-changing landscape with little room to maneuver.

Someone bumped into her side, and Remi instantly shifted her posture, sliding her foot to the side to steady herself. Her eyes narrowed briefly as her gaze flicked to her side. An older Japanese man about her height, maybe a little taller if he stood up straight, with a salaryman's paunch, hunched shoulders, and a nervous, contrite expression. In his hand was a shopping bag held protectively in front of him, and his other hand was free.

Human then. And not a threat. Just an accident. She saw the man reading ''her'', startled, and knew he must be taking in her wavy, honey-blonde hair, her warmer complexion, her height. There was hesitation as he struggled to switch to an unfamiliar language. "Are—"

Remi let her posture relax, let her eyes and lips widen slightly to convey a surprise she did not entirely feel. In the fluent Japanese she had spoken all her life, she said, "Oh! Excuse me, sir. Are you okay?"

Hearing Japanese, the man seemed to lose some tension as he switched languages to match. "Oh, yes, thank you. I'm sorry, it is very busy today, and I was in a rush."

"Think nothing of it," Remi replied, raising a hand to wave off the concern. "Have a Happy New Year's."

The man bowed his head briefly. "Thank you, and you as well, Miss. And may I say, your Japanese is very good."

There was a flash of heat in her chest, but Remi kept a tight grip on it as she worked her face into a practiced smile. "That is very kind of you to say. Thank you." She turned and kept moving her way through the crowd.

The smile dropped from her face once she turned away. All she wanted to do was to pick up her toshikoshi soba and o-toso sake. And perhaps, if she could find a nice vintage, a bottle of wine; she'd been saving up a little to splurge for the New Year.

Her first New Year since leaving the lab. Eight months spent trying to wrestle with what had been done to her and Yua, learning how to cook, work, and live on her own, and trying desperately to hold onto whatever parts of her soul she could even as the NWO directed her to perform ever more gruesome acts.

And just over four years since she had spoken to her parents or anyone from her family. But how could she face them like this? How could she ''explain''? Not for the first time, she told herself it would be better to stay away, to leave them to whatever resolution they had come to, and to avoid stepping back into a life she was now ill-suited for.

She did, in fact, find a nice red wine vintage to go with her other purchases, and bag in hand Remi quickly made her way to the exit. The sooner she could leave the mall, the better.

A loud gasp drew a sharp, focused glare over her shoulder to evaluate the threat—and Remi froze, tension ratcheting her body tightly as she found herself unable to move or even process.

An older woman, roughly in her early forties—''stop it''—wearing a look of naked shock. A dark gray skirt suit—''don't''—that spoke of professional work. Unbalanced posture—''this isn't necessary''—empty hands and no sign of a weapon.

Gray eyes opened wide in a confused mix of shock, horror, grief, and relief. ''Remi'' stop ''you know who this is.''

"O-ojou-sama…?" the older woman eventually managed to get out. "I-it can't—"

Remi's cheeks burned with heat. She couldn't—not like this—it would be better if—but she couldn't ''run'', not now—not a threat—no way to neutralize—why was this happening why was this happening why was—

The woman's left hand was covering her mouth, and Remi could see her chest starting to rise and fall in rapid succession. Hyperventilating. But another motion snapped her focus to the woman's right hand—an overfull shopping bag, with at least several bottles poking out the top and who knew what else. It had jerked down suddenly as the woman's hand went slack.

Another jolt downwards. The handle was resting on her fingertips.

One more jolt—

The tension burst. Without thinking about it Remi threw herself forward, snatching the bag out of the air moments before it impacted the ground.

The woman let out a startled yelp, stumbling back a step, and Remi felt another flash of heat rise in her chest. She could see how those familiar gray eyes had suddenly filled with nothing but fear, for just an instant. Standing upright, Remi awkwardly left the rescued bag extended in front of her, as she forced herself to really ''look'' at the other woman.

Ayuna Tanaka. The Ryuuja family's assistant. ''Her'' assistant, as she had started to grow older, and perhaps once her closest confidante. A woman she had missed far more than Remi had realized, now that hot, burning grief had wedged its way into her conditioned threat assessment. Her voice cracked. "T— Tanaka-san. I—"

Remi speaking had disrupted the eerie stasis of the moment. Ayuna's eyes watered, and in an instant she surged forward to wrap her arms tightly around her former charge. "Ojou-sama— Remi— We thought—"

The sudden contact made Remi's muscles tighten as it prepared to react, but Remi screamed at herself that Ayuna wasn't a threat. After a tense moment she finally relaxed and wrapped both arms around her former assistant and friend. "I know, Ayuna. I know."

Something hot stung her cheeks, stung both of their cheeks as they desperately tried to bridge a gulf of four years.

Neither woman wanted to let go first, but eventually they parted. Ayuna didn't move to take the bag, instead resting her hands on Remi's shoulders, looking the younger woman up and down. "Gods, look at you. Where— where have you ''been''? We were all so worried for you. When you never made it home from Beijing—"

Remi averted her gaze downwards, unable to meet Ayuna's eyes. Her thoughts were roiling. Her heart hammered in her chest, her breathing rapid and shallow. ''Ayuna is not a threat.'' But if that was true, why did it feel like the ground was about to drop from underneath her?

"But you've come back to us!" exclaimed Ayuna, pulling Remi back for another hug. "It's a miracle! We'll have to catch you up— I need to call your parents—"

A hot sharp spike drove itself into the numbness at Remi's core, and before she knew it she was pulling herself backwards, out of Ayuna's grip with far more strength than intended. "NO!" The one word took all her breath, and she panted harshly as she clutched her head, trying to still the racing thoughts.

She didn't need to look to know people were staring at them now. Or to see Ayuna's shocked expression. "Sorry—" she said rapidly. "I— I just mean—not here. Elsewhere. Can we talk elsewhere?"

The older woman recoiled again at the unexpected shout. Doubt and uncertainty flickered across her face, but she slowly nodded. "Of, of course, ojou-sama," she said much more softly and slowly than before. "Whatever you like. Where is your car? I'll follow you anywhere you'd like to go."

Remi took a deep breath, lowering her hand from her head to her chest, like she was trying to force her lungs to move more slowly. "I don't have one. I took the train here."

"You took the—" Ayuna looked briefly perplexed but then shook her head to clear the thought. "Then—would you care to come with me to my car? We don't have to go back home," she added quickly. "We can just… find someplace to talk. I just… don't want to let you slip away again."

There was a long silence as Remi fought to put her racing thoughts back under control. There was no threat. Ayuna wouldn't harm her. If she tried—''she wouldn't''—Remi was more than capable of handling her. "… yes. Thank you."

Ayuna studied Remi for a long moment, brow creased in concern before she finally spoke. "Very well, then. May I have my bag? And… may I take yours, ojou-sama?"

With a slow nod, Remi extended both hands. "… Yes. Thank you, Tanaka-san."

----
They drove, in silence, until Ayuna found an empty bench facing the sea. And then they sat, in silence, watching the morning sun rippling over the waves. Remi pulled her coat tighter as the ocean breeze bit deeply into her core. She couldn't suppress the involuntary shudder, but it gave her something to focus on as she tried to sort through her mess of thoughts.

Ayuna sat on the other end of the bench, hands folded in her lap. She kept her gaze on the ocean, though she couldn't help but take glances at Remi, worry and concern plain on her face. "So…" she started hesitantly, as she considered her words. "… are you taking care of yourself?"

Remi took a deep breath and pulled her coat tighter around herself. "Oui," she said quietly. And she was—as best as she was able to, given the circumstance.

''There are no threats here. Ayuna is your— friend.'' Well, assistant. They had always maintained a close but still-formal connection. But not so formal that Remi couldn't allow herself to open up, just a little bit.

"That's good." Ayuna studied Remi for a long moment, taking her time to formulate the next question. "… does… anyone else know you're here in Sumaru…?"

She didn't have to reveal anything sensitive to explain—though as Remi's mind raced through the potential dangers, she identified one potential social snafu. "Miho-chan and Yua-chan do. In fact, Yua-chan is the reason I am here at all…" Remi finally forced herself to look at Ayuna, though she could feel her chest tighten. "Please understand—I asked them not to say a word. I needed time. But as the time wore on…"

"It's okay," Ayuna said soothingly. "You don't have to explain. Whatever you've been through, it was… obviously a lot. So… have they been looking out for you?"

"Bien sûr. Of course. Without them…" Remi shook her head slowly.

If it wasn't them, she'd still be in the lab. But she couldn't exactly explain about that.

Ayuna nodded slowly, still not moving from her end of the bench. "I'm just… glad you're being cared for, ojou-sama."

"I am." Remi looked back to the ocean, watching the waves crashing against the beach. "I… have an apartment in Aoba ward. I care for three potted plants. Yua-chan has taught me to… clean, and cook." A bare wisp of a smile graced her lips for a fleeting moment. "… and I have studied more myself, besides. I… I even have a job. Several, in fact."

The assistant's eyes widened in surprise, and she regarded Remi with new insight, looking at her posture, her demeanor, and how she spoke of her new skills. "… you seem to have taken to it well, then."

Before Ayuna could speak further, her phone chirped in her pocket. Remi watched from the corner of her eye as Ayuna rushed to retrieve it, looked at the caller ID, and the deep frown that temporarily etched itself into her features. "… who was that?" she asked.

"O-oh, it's nothing important, ojou-sama," Ayuna said a little bit too quickly. "Please don't concern yourself with it."

Remi slid her gaze back out to the ocean. "… it was probably my mother, wondering why it has taken you so long to return."

The following silence confirmed Remi's suspicion. ''Of course. If it had not been for me, she would have returned already. And today is always such a busy day for preparations… Little wonder.''

Ayuna opened her mouth to protest, but caught herself and slowly nodded instead. "… yes, it was. I should call and explain, but… I won't tell her about you. Not if you don't want me to."

Remi stared at the ocean for a long moment as she considered the possibility. She could protect herself. Shield her heart from the chaotic conflict, spare her parents from seeing the… ''weapon'' she had been turned into.

And all it would take would be asking Ayuna to perform an act of deception. To lie to her parents and withhold the truth. For how long? When she was 'ready'?

She would never be ready. They had carved her fear out of her in the lab and yet she was still… ''afraid'' of two ordinary people.

"… you may tell them," Remi finally said, without looking at Ayuna. "If… you would be so kind. And… I should like to see them, if they are willing."

Ayuna regarded Remi for a long moment and then nodded slowly. "As you wish, ojou-sama. Please excuse me for a moment." She stood, walking a short distance from the bench and making a phone call. She spoke in quick, hushed whispers, and with the swift wind blowing in from the ocean Remi couldn't make out what was being said.

Presently, Ayuna returned and nodded. "When you are ready…"

Remi stared at the ocean for a moment longer, feeling her muscles start to coil and her stomach turn upset. She forced herself to stand, shouting at herself for the entire ride home.

----

'Home' was a sprawling, traditional estate with immaculate Japanese landscaping, though many parts of the interior had been given a distinctly Western treatment as Remi's mother had endeavored to establish her influence. Remi averted her gaze from what had once been her private suite as Ayuna pulled the car in, struggling to keep her heart rate down as they grew ever closer to the grounds.

Once Ayuna parked, she looked over to Remi, her eyes focusing on Remi's clenched hands in her lap. "Ojou-sama," she started, and then her voice softened as she gentled it. "… Remi-san. We will do everything we can to make you comfortable. If you need anything at all—even to leave—simply say the word, and I will see to it."

Remi took a deep breath and then forced her hands to unclench, nodding slowly. "Thank you, Tanaka-san. You are… as indispensable as ever."

That earned a small, genuine smile from the older woman. "Thank you for saying so. Then, whenever you are ready?"

Walking through the estate was almost a surreal experience. Everything was as she remembered it, but now Remi couldn't stop her mind from mapping out escape routes and identifying defensible positions, despite her best efforts. She did her best to shove those thoughts aside. ''This is your home. Or it was. There is nothing here that can threaten you.''

She wished she could let herself believe that.

But the route they were taking was both clear, and familiar: her mother's study, a place she had spent much of her formative years in. Remi drew in a sharp breath as she stepped into the plushly-carpeted room. It was decorated in a distinctly French style, with dark wood furniture, European antiques, and several large bookshelves. At one end of the room was her mother's desk, and next to it an armchair she had all but lived in, for a time. Remi would converse with her mother, in French, while her mother worked, or simply curl up with an old French novel.

And if not by the desk… Remi's eyes alighted on the fireplace. A fire was already crackling, and Remi could feel the warmth finally starting to reach her body, though still distantly. Around it were a couch and several chairs—

And her parents.

Remi froze. A woman, slightly shorter than herself, physically fit, in a simple dress that would restrict her movement— ''Stop that.'' Her mother, Elodie Rochefort, a woman in her late 40's, with the same honey blonde hair Remi had, and striking green eyes. She drew in a shocked breath as her eyes fell on her daughter for the first time in four years. "Ma coccinelle!"

She stood quickly to rush forward, but the man sitting on the couch next to her reached a hand out to lightly grab her arm. "Elodie," he said gently. Tamahiro Ryuuja was just slightly taller than Elodie, with brown eyes Remi had mostly inherited from him. His affect was often more stoic and calm, but in this moment Remi could read the cloudy storm brewing behind those eyes.

And both were observing her, as well. Remi's body was tightly wound as she stood in the doorway, and she had elected not to remove her outer coat, though she had let it hang open. It always took her body far longer to warm up these days, especially after being outside for so long.

Remi took a hesitant step into the study. Her voice broke as she spoke. "Maman, Papa, I—" Tears were already stinging her eyes as she slowly lifted her arms.

Elodie rushed forward then, drawing Remi into the tightest embrace. "Oh, ma chérie! Comme tu m’as manqué!"

Letting out a choked sob, Remi wrapped her arms around her mother, burying her face as she let the tears flow. "Toi aussi tu m'as manqué."

Tamahiro remained on the couch, and Ayuna quietly took her place by the door, hands folded neatly in front of her. Remi and Elodie embraced until long after the tears had stopped flowing.

It was a hollowing feeling, one that left Remi utterly gutted and numb. For several heartbeats, Remi lost track of the world, until she suddenly felt a hand on her cheek. She jolted upright, blinking as her eyes focused on the white object being offered to her.

"Tiens, chérie," Elodie urged gently, offering the tissue. "Viens t'asseoir," she added a moment later, gesturing to an empty armchair that sat facing the couch. She tried to keep her voice warm and soft, but it broke slightly as she added, "S'il te plaît?"

Remi reached out to take the tissue, giving a small nod. She could barely trust her own voice, which came out in a hollow whisper. "D'accord, Maman." She retreated to the chair, sitting down in it heavily as she slowly dabbed at her face.

Elodie retreated to the couch, and Tamahiro reached out to take her hand to give it a tight squeeze. The two exchanged a troubled glance, though Remi did not see it. Elodie placed her other hand over Tamahiro's, and sagged against her husband. Both watched their daughter with naked worry, but neither of them rushed to speak.

''They'll want to know what happened,'' Remi thought to herself. Almost immediately a ringing bell nearly split her skull with sharp, white-hot pain.

<span style="font-family: monospace, monospace;"Protect our assets. Do not endanger your cover.</span>

Remi grit her teeth, face contorting for a brief moment. ''I know! I know! I have the cover story!'' She took a few ragged breaths as the ringing subsided, though a painful echo still lingered for a while longer.

Elodie squeezed Tamahiro's hand, drawing in a sharp breath. "Remi-chan, darling," she murmured, switching back to Japanese. "Please, is something the matter?"

"I am simply—" Remi couldn't bring herself to look at her parents. "I am simply… overwhelmed. This is… very trying. Please understand."

Tamahiro and Elodie shared another, longer glance this time. They didn't speak, but the worry was etched ever-deeper on their faces. Tamahiro turned to look at his daughter. "… of course, Remi-chan," he said gently. "Please, take your time. We're just…" He struggled for a word. "… relieved, to see you again."

"As am I," Remi replied, still feeling numb. She could barely pull her thoughts together.

All she had to do was make a vague allusion to being trafficked, and then state that she wasn't ready to say more—she doubted they would press for details. And then she could try to tell them some positives to put them at ease, like she had done with Ayuna.

She opened her mouth to speak, but then a young voice cut through the room. "Maman! Touchan!" Moments later a toddler burst into the room, tiny legs carrying him right towards Elodie.

Ayuna gasped and started forward, but in her surprise her hands just missed him. "Ah— wait!"

Elodie instantly let go of Tamahiro's hands, reaching out to scoop the toddler up. "Ah, mon caneton, ce n'est pas le bon moment." Her voice was soft and soothing, but frantic. She stood, taking a step towards Ayuna. "Tanaka-san—"

"Of course, ma'am," said Ayuna rapidly, stepping forward. "Please come with me, young master." Tamahiro had halfway stood from his seat, ready to take any action.

As Ayuna reached for the toddler, a harried woman opened the door. "My apologies, ma'am, I only looked away for a moment—" She cut herself off as she saw the woman in the armchair. Everyone paused then, the adults all looking towards Remi with alarm.

Remi's heart froze in her chest. All she could do was to stare at the small child. He had Tamahiro's dark hair and skin complexion. Male, so one day would be a better, more 'acceptable' heir to the family's legacy. And the timing…

Her mother hadn't been pregnant when she had been taken. Remi was certain of that. With all of the health issues surrounding her own birth, they had never tried for more siblings. So to try again…

Every muscle felt like a coiled spring. Remi's lungs burned, and she forcibly exhaled so she could suck in fresh air. Her eyes, wide and questioning, slowly drifted from the child's face to her mother's.

Elodie could only turn her face away and give a silent nod.

The child, however, looked over to Remi and studied her curiously, tilting his head. He lifted a hand to point. "Maman, c'est qui?"

Reaching out to gently fold the finger down, Elodie quietly tried to hush the child. "C'est pas poli, mon chéri."

The toddler withdrew his hand into his lap. "Pardon! C'est qui?"

A pained expression crossed Elodie's face as she glanced to Remi. Words died on her tongue as she struggled to form the sentence.

Remi stood, her gaze never leaving the toddler. Out of the corner of her eye, she clocked her father standing up straighter, and the sharp way his hand suddenly tensed, fingers curling into a fist. Remi stopped, and placed a hand on her chest. "Je suis ta grande sœur, Rémi. Et toi, tu es...?"

The toddler instantly responded with a bright reply of "Tamashi!" He lifted an arm to wave energetically. "Bonjour, Rémi!"

And a name that was utterly, distinctly Japanese. Of course. Remi forced a smile to her face. "Enchantée, Tamashi."

"Ma'am, please allow me," said the caretaker, stepping forward. "Come along, little one. Why don't we go get you ready for the New Year?" She quickly made an exit with Tamashi, and a silence fell over the room.

Ayuna took her position by the door. Elodie, Tamahiro, and Remi all sat, though none of them could look at each other.

Remi sagged. She was reaching for that hollowness now, the surge that had filled her muscles evaporating like mist. Thoughts and questions circled endlessly in her mind without resolution: How was she supposed to react to this? What was she supposed to say? What did this mean for her place in the family?

What kind of place ''could'' she possibly have had even without Tamashi present?

While Remi stewed in her thoughts, her parents retreated within themselves, no longer sitting quite as close on the couch. Tamahiro reached out to put a hand on Elodie's shoulder, but the latter silently shook it off, and the former drew his hand back to his lap.

When Elodie finally spoke again, her voice was quiet and trembling, and she still couldn't bring herself to look at her daughter. "I'm so sorry, my darling. We were going to tell you, just… not like that."

Flatly. "It's fine." It wasn't fine, but Remi didn't have anything left in her to sell the line. "It's…" She shook her head. "… I know now." When she looked up, it wasn't to her parents, but Ayuna. "Tanaka-san. Could I have something stiff to drink?"

Elodie sat up sharply, her voice full of reproach. "Remi-chan! Absolutely ''not''."

Remi didn't modulate her voice at all as she looked at her mother again. "Mother, I'm 23."

The words hit Elodie like a shock. She slumped backwards, hand covering her mouth. "… you are right. My apologies, dear. Tanaka-san, if you would be so kind, make that two."

"Of course, ma'am," said Ayuna crisply. "Ryuuja-san, for you as well?" Tamahiro nodded silently, and Ayuna gave a polite bow. "Very well. I will return momentarily."

A few moments later, each family member held a shot glass in hand. Remi stared into hers for a moment, studying the clear liquid within. She looked to her parents and raised her glass. "Cul sec." Without hesitating she tossed the glass back, draining it in one go. It burned on the way down, but Remi relished the sensation. Once it hit her gut the warmth spread through her body in a way that the fire still hadn't quite managed to do.

Both parents followed suit, and the three of them sat in silence afterwards.

Remi sat her glass down on a side table. "I should go. You doubtlessly have many preparations to make, and I have my own to see to, as well." The situation was too uncertain. Remi wasn't sure how she related to her parents anymore, to say nothing of her extended family, and the mere anticipation of prolonged social interactions was driving alarm bells in her mind.

Her instincts all screamed for retreat, and Remi couldn't disagree.

"Wait—" started Elodie, a bit too fast. "Are— Are you doing well?" Her eyes were full of fear, but also a small, desperate ember of hope.

Considering her mother for a moment, Remi slowly nodded. "As well as I can be, yes. I am… living my life."

Elodie let out a soft, shuddering breath. "Good, good. That's… all I wanted to know. We won't keep you, dear, just… we would like to be part of your life again. If there is space for us."

"Maman, I—" Remi's voice trembled slightly as she considered all the things that might mean. She glanced away. "I cannot be your heiress."

Tamahiro finally spoke up, leaning forward. His expression was still stern and stoic, but there was something that had softened subtly around the eyes. "We do not need you to be our heiress, Remi-chan. Just.. our daughter. If you would care to stay, we will celebrate the New Year with just the… four of us."

There'd been a slight hitch before her father had said 'four.' Remi mulled that thought over. "You have obligations," she pointed out. "It would not do for me to keep you from them." She still remembered how seriously her father took those kinds of things.

"Yes, I do," agreed Tamahiro with a short nod. "I do. But… I have an obligation to you, as well. You have a place here. Your mother and I both want you to know that." He glanced to his wife for confirmation, and Elodie nodded emphatically.

"Absolutely. We know things cannot be as they were, but we could never…" Elodie's voice caught in her throat. "We could never abandon our child."

Remi sat in silence. Part of her mind was still crafting escape routes—out into the hallway, a set of stairs in either direction; out the ''window'', onto the trellis—but she scrounged up the last of her mental reserves to try and set those worries aside. These were her ''parents''.

And what did she have to look forward to? A night spent alone, in her apartment, with no one but her plants to talk to? Drinking an entire bottle of wine herself in an attempt to drown out all the racing thoughts and endless concerns about her life?

She let out a long, weary sigh as she sagged into the chair. "… Maman, Papa, I… I would like to try. At least for tonight. I… happen to have a nice vintage of red wine with me. Perhaps we could share it?"

Tamahiro allowed himself a momentary smile. "Of course. And thank you, Remi-chan." His voice snapped back to crisp command a moment later. "Tanaka-san. Would you please contact my parents and extend them my deepest apologies? Tell them we will be by tomorrow."

"Of course, Ryuuja-san," said Ayuna with a deep bow. "I'll see to it right away." She started to turn, to leave, but paused when she heard Remi's voice.

"Tanaka-san," said Remi, finally looking up from her contemplations. She looked at her parents, then her long-time assistant. "When you finish that, if you happen to know of a spare otoshidama…? It would be much appreciated. I assume you know Tamashi-kun's tastes."

Ayuna offered Remi a warm smile and a bow of her head. "Of course, ojou-sama. I will return shortly." And with that she slipped out, leaving the room to silence and a crackling hearth.
</poem>

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-21: A Map for the Atelier

2026-09-22T02:45:42Z

Talnora: Immediate regrets.

*'''Log: A Map for the Atelier'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Isabeau Fontaine]]
*'''Where:''' Kazusa's Studio, Electric Town - Main
*'''OOC Date:''' September 21, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Sunday, January 13, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Isabeau surprises Kazusa at her studio, bringing information about Shinichi's Atelier. But the conversation quickly turns contentious, and ends with Isabeau storming off.''

----

(|=========================== Electric Town - Main ===========================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
A sacred place for otaku, not just within Japan but worldwide. Here, it's so
mainstream to be a geek that it circles back to being cool again. That is,
unless you harass the staff of the businesses here whose job requires them to be
a part of this culture, or the cosplayers who work so hard at their costumes
that it's practically a second job for them.

Arcades and gaming shops alternate with manga stores full of merch that's so
pricy as to make any broke fan envious. Collectors line the streets for the
chance to trade for the rarest gachapon finds. Maid cafes and popups with menus
designed to profit off the latest hits in the weekly manga collabs and/or old
favorites from two decades ago cater equally to tourists and locals alike.

Anywhere on earth may be a heaven or hell depending on who you are, but that may
be truer than most places for Akihabara.

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa, for all her prior mean girl ways, often tends to prefer to keep a low profile. Doubly so these days, with the threat posed by Shinichi's Homunculus now made clear. She's done her best to keep things together at class, where she has to sit in the same classroom as the threat, but in her private moments she's been jumpy, nervous, and on-edge.

And she's been looking over her shoulder a lot in public, as well.

Still, if one were to go ''looking'' for her, those in the Persona User community might have an advantage. Especially those who helped deal with Kazusa's Homunculus. And ''especially'' especially anyone claiming to have excellent tracking skills.

There's several old concrete buildings a short distance away from Akiba that used to be warehouses but have been renovated into apartments. And in a certain one, on the top floor, in a corner unit... is a studio.

Kazusa took a circuitous route to get here today, and having gotten in and put her things down, she's trying to relax and get her mind into something productive, but... she's not made much progress yet.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
Knock, knock. "Motojima!" Beat. "Motojima-san," as if remembering. "I am me."

She probably meant 'it is me', which is just another reason, aside from a voice that couldn't be missed, that that's Isabeau Fontaine. She has ''not'' kept a low profile; rather, she has kept ''an eye on Shinichi,'' as school's started.

This hasn't always gone well for her. Don't worry about it.

She is, at least, knocking at the ''door,'' in her jeans and knit jumper. Perhaps she's not ''trying'' to freak her out.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa would be ''extra'' freaked out to see ISabeau at her window. Being on the fifth floor and all. Still, Kazusa jumps at the sudden sound, fumbling with her canned coffee before taking it firmly in hand. "Wha-!?"

She whirls around to face the door, and then there's a heavy sigh as she processes who it must be.

When Kazusa opens the door, she's not dressed as she normally is. Her hair is up in a messy bun affixed by two pencils, she's wearing a pair of blue light glasses, along with an oversized pink hoodie, purple sweatpants, and pink house slippers. "Fontaine-san," she says with a hissed voice. "Get in here before you let the whole district know where I am!"

She steps back. By the door is an unfinished concrete area, a genkan, and a tiny step up is finished concrete that makes up the rest of the studio loft. Along the left is a closet, bathroom, and a small kitchenette area, in front of it a round wooden table, and in the corner a folding table with some calligraphy and ikebana supplies. (Those are new, from the last time Isabeau was here.)

The loft takes the corner directly to the right--up above isn't a bed or a futon but cardboard boxes. Beneath it is Kazusa's desk, a mood board on the wall, and several bookshelves stacked filled with manga, DVDs, games, and reference books.

"What are you even doing here?" she demands. "And were you followed?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"Do not ''panic,''" Isabeau chastises her, harshly, as she steps inside. "And do not speak of me as if I am ''amateur.'' I will leave this moment if your will is to disrespect me so."

She folds her arms, as she leans against the wall. "I come to tell you of the hospital," she says, sternly. "Kanae... san and I, already have scouted its grounds. Of the ones which say they are harmless, those Shadows are girls and women, twisted to ill ends. Of the ones which say they do harm, they are orderlies and doctors, but first they are torturers. Force led us forward, but the sight of vivisection is like to affect you. Prepare yourself now to succeed."

No 'hello'?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"I'm not panicking!" snaps the mildly panicking KAzusa. "I'm being ''cautious''." She stares at Isabeau for a moment. Is ''that'' all it would take to get her to leave?

It's tempting... but Kazusa sighs and steps inside after locking the door. "Well you're here now you may as well come in. Do you want something to drink?"

Kazusa slips the classes off and pockets them, then crosses her arms. "... The... hospital? We already took the Thread there," she says with a frown. "Why would you be..."

"Harmless... Shadows. Right, the... the..." Kazusa snaps her fingers for a moment. "Sanguins. Wait--the Atelier is a hospital?"

"Doctors and..." Kazusa frowns. And then she recoils. "Wh-- wait are you ''serious''? What kind of messed up hospital has--" She turns away, to try and hide the unease on her face. "... W-well... thanks for the heads-up. I ''do'' can't be done with this Homunculus soon enough."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
Isabeau does not answer her desire for beverages. She's busy with ''operational dialogue.'' What a jerk!

"The ''Atelier'' hospital," Isabeau clarifies, tersely. "It is in ''Mikage-cho,'' or some memory of it... though the Atelier ''starts'' in the middle school. Ah, here," she slings off her backpack, and pulls out a thin folder, "I have sketched the layout of this for your reference. You are fortunate I attended this myself, before I came to Tokyo."

There, Isabeau has sketched out what she remembers of places in Mikage-cho -- like the middle school, and the mall -- as altered by the strange decay of the Atelier. There are still plenty of places marked 'as recalled'... where one may have to place large 'X's to indicate paths no longer traversible.

"The surrounds are all run down," she explains, "but it is the hospital where the worse horrors are. They carve pieces from those girls... and terminate the women who would work alongside them. Be cautious of the long, spindly doctors... these Shadows are more difficult to kill than the others. Though," she adds, "they all may be killed."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
That's fine. Kazusa can save her drinks for herself.

"I don't know the Atelier was a hospital," Kazusa says with an exasperated sigh. "But fine, whatever. Middle school--seriously?" She frowns as she hears the name Mikage-Cho. "Wasn't there that... that earthquake, right? Something about a chemical accident?"

She does lean in to look at the map. "... You're from the area? When did you move to Tokyo?" That question, at least, is a little less accusatory. "Hang on." Kazusa goes to pick up her phone from her desk (and locks the computer screen) before coming back to take a picture, for reference.

"Spindly doctors... must be the Melancs... Well, assuming the layout doesn't change... this... could be helpful." She's a little surprised to be saying that.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"It was a gas leak," Isabeau explains, curt. "I never will understand ''you people'' and your obsession with gas heating. How many will die before you will embrace modernity?"

(She's referring to the fact that Japanese homes have no central heating, which means that space heaters are a universal constant -- and kerosene is a popular power choice for them. ''Kazusa probably has one running right now.'')

"Bah... anyway, I moved to Tokyo only last year," she says, shaking her head, fingers drumming on her broad arms. "When I found my father, you see. Unfortunately, my reputation followed me... it is no matter. Let them think witchcraft if they will."

She shrugs a shoulder, as she adds: "Melanc, Sanguine, it matters not to me. A monster is a monster. Kanae-san still is blinded, though... take care with her. She is too attached to the ones which do not fight back."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
The apartment is an old concrete building. It is not the best insulated place, no. At 'you people' Kazusa rolls her eyes. "My space heater isn't going to cause any issues in a ''concrete building'', hello."

Last year. And her reputation followed her. "... right." Kazusa knows a thing or two about reputations... and how quickly they can sour.

Kazusa arches an eyebrow. "Oh, so you're flat out admitting you don't study your prey, then? Not exactly what I expected from a 'hunter'. You know they all have different roles in the Atelier or... whatever. Do you seriously just go through places like that and kill everything that crosses your path?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
Isabeau does not bother arguing with Kazusa over the perils of ''gas'' in a ''concrete building,'' save a withering look.

As for her reputation... it was never sweet to begin with.

"Do not insult me," she snaps, instead, despite the fact that ''she'' just insulted Kazusa's ''whole country.'' "I am ''aware'' of the delineations. I simply do not regard them with ''merit.'' A Shadow is a beast which was always meant to be ''subconscious'' -- unseen. Where they are viewed and spoken with, they are abominations, risen to harm the host with secrets never meant for human view."

She pauses, and unfolds a hand, gesturing to Kazusa: "I ask you: why does Nagisa-san's Atelier feature these misogynistic visions? An 'Atelier' is an expression of the human mind... it is from ''him'' these doctors and their vivisections came from, not the Homunculus who invaded him. No?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa's was never sweet, either. But it did offer a type of protection. A lot less so, now, though.

"Oh, my mistake. You know the differences and then just choose to ignore them. Sounds like reaaaal smart hunting there," Kazusa says with a scoff. "Yeah, and what do you think ''we're'' doing when we go into someone ''else's'' Atelier, huh? The whole place is like, tied to the person's subconscious, or... however it works. But you don't go burning the whole place down, do you?"

Beat. Kazusa narrows her eyes. "... You don't do that, right?"

"His mind or his Atelier or whatever makes all the Humor Shadows. But the Homunculus takes control of the... Melancs, so they can go attack other shadows. Given how the Homunculus operates, I'm inclined to blame ''him'', not Nagisa-san."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"Your childish sarcasm does not paint you as experienced as you believe," Isabeau scowls, with Kazusa under her skin more than she'd admit. "The subconscious we see when we attend these places -- Atelier, Palace, Foraine -- in all cases, we should not ''see'' them. It is not ''normal'' to walk in these places."

She goes on: "You must use force to put down what threatens to consume a person's soul, or the poison will slowly consume them. I regret that I have not yet been able to locate the person who that wretched pig came from, let alone that peacock... I am sure they wither and die as those things enforce existence on creation."

Isabeau gestures, again. "Melanc, Melanc, Melanc. Let us put the orderlies and doctors aside! The girls -- the girls, made for the surgery table, designed to suffer. The nurses, twisted into base feminine subjugation, bent and bowing to her betters. You will explain this in your philosophy."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa is trying to be a better person. But she's not perfect yet. And Isabeau, well... "You're right. What do I know? I'm honestly amazed you didn't just run into the Atelier by yourself." Little does she know.

"You know not everything in the Atelier is harming the person, right? They're just--part of how the place works." Beat. "I think, anyway. Roger-san explained it all but I still doesn't at my best back then." Maybe she should ask for a refresher.

... Maybe she should stop avoiding him.

"What would you even do if you found out who they came from? You can't get back in if there's no Homunculus."

The nurses. "I don't-- how am ''I'' supposed to know! I haven't seen them yet. Maybe the other Humors are just--forcing them to obey, or something, I don't know. It's not like I've been in any Ateliers yet besides my own."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"I would, as I have," Isabeau answers, plainly. "I conquered yours alone... but I did not like to see Kanae-san approach ''this'' on her own."

Translation: Kanae insisted on coming with her this time.

"The harm is done in the viewing ''itself,''" Isabeau says, again, her patience wearing thin. "As you say, with no invader, there is no entry. ''There should be no entry to that place.''"

But Kazusa sounds frustrated, and Isabeau scowls. "You are ''supposed to know'' by ''listening to those with more experience,''" she bristles, "as I have tried to do, to come here and prepare you. If all you wish to do is to tell me how little I know, there is no more for me to do in this place. I wish you luck as you go forward in your optimism, gently urging him to death in your hunger to befriend the parts of him no woman was meant to touch."

With this, Isabeau turns, to stalk towards the door.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Another arched eyebrow. "You did. Why does that not surprise me. At least Kanae-chan has some sense."

"I'll probably be happy to never set foot in that place as soon as we get that Homunculus out of there." Does that mean they actually agree on that point?

"''Your'' version of experience is to just, indiscriminately attack everything in sight just because you think it's a threat, whether it is or not. Do you really want me to go through a creepy hospital and waste all my energy on everything that crosses my path?"

'The parts of him no woman was meant to touch.' "''Ew''. Why did you have to-- t-to phrase it like ''that''!"

Kazusa presses her palm to her forehead to forestall another headache and then calls out, "WAit, wait. Dammit. Look-- ''Thank you'' for bringing the information, okay? You don't-- you don't have to go."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"Hmph," Isabeau scowls, when Kazusa insults her capacity yet again. How many countless times, in this very conversation...

"As you should not. ... yes, it is better to meet these things with force, to press them back into the shadows from they come."

She stumbles over the viewing, insists Isabeau does not have to go, and Isabeau looks over her shoulder, her expression harsh.

"I do, in fact. You have made it abundantly clear you wish to speak to anyone else. Someone 'with some sense', was it? I am do 'reaaaal smart hunting,'" she mockingly echoes Kazusa's own sarcasm, "and I do not understand that your building with concrete would not have problems with ''gas leaks,'' hello! What was it you said, I flat out admit I do not study my prey? Or that I was surely ''followed,'' and would alert the Homunculus to your foxhole?"

The door opens, as she issues, sharply: "Good ''DAY,'' Motojima."

Slam!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa just stares as Isabeau leaves. There's not even really anything she can say. She did just say all of that stuff--some of it, she hadn't ''meant'' as an insult, it had just been a panicked reaction.

... but some of it she had.

"I--"

Slam!

She slumps against the counter of the kitchenette, then her whole body sags. Her arms come up to hug herself, before she stares at the ground with a complicated mixture of emotions. "... Ugh. Why did I ''do'' that?" She really didn't want to be alone right now.

So much for trying to be a better person.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-20: The Ramen Boy and the Night Princess

2026-09-21T04:19:11Z

Talnora: You get three guesses and the first two don't count.

*'''Log: The Ramen Boy and the Night Princess'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Ryuji Sakamoto]]
*'''Where:''' Electric Town - Main
*'''OOC Date:''' September 20, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Saturday, January 12, 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Ryuji's food vlogs need... a little bit of help, to put it kindly. Kazusa offered Ryuji the phone number of a video editor, and now Ryuki has arranged to meet the mysterious 'NightPrincess' in person. Who could this mystery editor be?''

----

(|=========================== Electric Town - Main ===========================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
A sacred place for otaku, not just within Japan but worldwide. Here, it's so
mainstream to be a geek that it circles back to being cool again. That is,
unless you harass the staff of the businesses here whose job requires them to be
a part of this culture, or the cosplayers who work so hard at their costumes
that it's practically a second job for them.

Arcades and gaming shops alternate with manga stores full of merch that's so
pricy as to make any broke fan envious. Collectors line the streets for the
chance to trade for the rarest gachapon finds. Maid cafes and popups with menus
designed to profit off the latest hits in the weekly manga collabs and/or old
favorites from two decades ago cater equally to tourists and locals alike.

Anywhere on earth may be a heaven or hell depending on who you are, but that may
be truer than most places for Akihabara.

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Some time ago, Kazusa happened upon Ryuji in Akiba and tried to apologize for how she reacted to him over summer break.

'Tried', since, her apology was immediately derailed by Ryuji responding that he was already seeing someone, causing Kazusa to snap and make the apology while flustered.

... It's probably fine.

She'd also let on that she knew about his food review videos, and casually commented that he could use an editor, and had even offered the phone number of someone she knew that was up to the task.

The fact that it was ''her'' phone number can just be a fun little surprise that comes out later.

But ''now'' they've finally made arrangements to meet, appropriately enough, at a ramen shop in Akiba. And Kazusa... is here in ''disguise''. Partly so she doesn't scare off Ryuji immediately, and partly because she has a serial killer out to get her and would rather obfuscate her trail as much as possible.

But the person Ryuji only knows as 'NightPrincess' ''did'' tell Ryuji how to identify her, though, and in a corner table in the back there she is: a girl about his age in a black beret, with dark green hair ( a wig), and glasses, wearing a long, dark green coat, a wrm cream-colored sweater over a longer dark brown dress, black tights, and ankle boots.

She's glancing anxiously out the window as she waits. There's a laptop bag on the seat next to her.

The shop itself is nice, though seems a bit quiet for this time of day--which might be why Kazusa picked it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji is eager to meet his new editor. In truth, video production had slowed somewhat due to a combination of things. Work was a big one. He had been slacking even in some of his stuff with the other side. So an editor was going to help a lot.

Ryuji arrives to the Ramen place; he had insisted on this shop due to it being within walking distance from the model shop. He was dressed in a white shirt and some baggy pants--basically what he wore under the apron at work. It also worked for when he had to change at the cafe.

Along with his messenger bag and water bottle, he scans the area for "Night Princess". He spots the green haired girl in the corner and smiles to himself. He had almost expected it was going to be Kazusa knowing his luck. But that's insane. Why would his life be that crazy?

That said he needed the help so it was time to meet this mystery editor.

Ryuji sits down, squinting at her face. Huh. She looked familiar but he didn't know anyone with green hair. "Hey! I'm Ryuji aka Ramenboy83. Thanks for meeting me here. I had to come straight from work. So you wait here long?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa, meanwhile, does not have a job to worry about--though she has plenty ''else'' to worry about, as it happens. But she does have a lot of computer experience and experience with artistic tools (even if video editing in particular is something she's still learning.)

Surely, if it was going to be Kazusa that Ryuji was meeting, Kazusa would have just ''said'' so, right? Right??

''Is'' she familiar? If one were to look past the glasse sthey might take note of the mystery girl's purple eyes...

'NightPrincess' sits up as she spots Ryuji, trying to keep a calm demeanor. "Hello," she says carefully. "It's nice to meet you. I'm NightPrincess." No first name given. That's probably fine. She shakes her head. "No, I haven't been waiting too long."

She puts a hand on her laptop bag. "... do you want to start with business or with lunch?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Exactly. Ryuji was safe from the mean girl. For now.

He notes the glasses, thinking about the people who he knows with glasses. Only Futaba came to mind and this one wasn't...Futaba. Also she didn't have green hair.

Noting she wants to remain anonymous, Ryuji nods and thinks for a second. "I'll call you NP. Probably better than saying the whole thing all the time. Might be embarrassing. You can call me Ryuji since we're gonna be working together." He grins to himself nodding. "Oh, lets do lunch first! It will help us get to know each other and plus I'm starving, man!"

He looks at the menu and strokes his chin. "Man this place has added some new stuff. Hopefully they didn't change the menu too much. They had a good flavor last time I was here."

He looks over the menu. "So you know Kazusa, eh? She's....interesting."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Neither NightPrincess nor Kazusa has ever met this Futaba. That Kazusa knows of, at least.

Though if Ryuji knows his glasses... maybe he can spot that these aren't prescription. Just ordinary blue light glasses one might wear to protect themself roma computer monitor.

"NP..." NightPrinces considers that for a moment and then nods. "If you want." But then Ryuji freely offers the use of his first name and NP can't help but smirk a little. "You'd go that familiar that quickly, huh...? I'll call you RB."

She looks at a menu herself. "... given the subject of your videos, I thought it would be appropriate." She does pause as Ryuji mentions Kazusa. "... you could say that. What do you know about her?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji doesn't know a thing about prescription glasses...even if he rocks a pair of costume glasses in some videos. They made him look and feel smarter so that about about what he knew of glasses.

He laughs when she mentions going that familiar, shrugging his shoulders. "Eh, I guess you're doing me a solid so I'm feeling pretty open about this. Like you're gonna see a lot of me so I figure why not? RB is fine too. Whatever is comfortable for ya...Just so we're clear it's got nothing to do with you being a girl. I get kinda weird due to one of my jobs and not wanting to give my girlfriend the wrong idea." He scratches the side of his nose as he looks down at the menu. He orders a bowl of the Ramen with Pork Belly, getting some extra pork belly on the side.

"It is very appropriate! I really just started it since I love coming to these places so I got a lot of experience with different types of Ramen." Ryuji leans against the table, nodding like he's reinventing sliced bread.

"Kazusa is kinda the mean girl in my class who I have a habit of running into. Honestly, it's kinda weird I keep running into her. That said she's alright. I think she means well or is starting to...Still I got a bad rep around school so she could make that more of a pain. Like I could care less about all that popularity stuff but it gets too loud and I start hearing from people who want to take down the delinquent."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
NightPrincess definitely doesn't know anythinga bout costumes. Nosiree. But it's fine. The truth will come out at some point.

"We haven't agreed to work together," NP points out. "... this is to see if we'd be a good fit." There's a flash of irritation as Ryuji brings up the girlfriend, ''again'', and NightPrincess has to visibly take a deep breath to try and calm herself. "... don't worry. This is strictly a business arrangement."

"... but what job is that?" NightPrincess asks, feigning ignorance.

Sliced bread is perfetly fine how it is, but NightPrincess laughs softly. "They say to write what you know, right? Or I suppose it's vlog what you know, in this case."

NightPrincess orders the curry ramen for herself, but doesn't get anything extra on the side.

Well, she can't exactly argue with that characterization of Kazusa. "Mmm. Must be hard escaping from a reputation like that." She doesn't specify whether she means Ryuji's or Kazusa's. "... so, what are your goals for your channel?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"Cool. Cool. Just wanted that to be clear since I was getting chummy." Ryuji smiles and nods. "Don't worry I can be a pretty persuasive guy when I want to be. You're gonna love the Let's Eat series."

The next question stops Ryuji dead. He sighs and laughs nervously. "Eh. It's kinda embarassing but I guess you can call it a service job in Akiba. I'm sure you can figure it out based on that." He laughs nervously, thanking whatever higher power that this girl didn't look like anyone he knew at school.

"Exactly! I know Ramen and food in general. Like only thing I know more about is fitness and that has it's own complications." He laughs awkwardly.

"Yeah. It is." Ryuji nods, deciding she means him cuz it was pretty hard being the school bad boy at times. Kazusa just had to hide being into fighting games or whatever, right? He taps his fingers on the table, thinking for a moment as the monkey in his brain considers the next question. "Goals? I guess to hit something like 1,000 subscribers or something. Is that high enough?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Don't worry, Ryuji. NightPrincess is ''definitely'' not interested in you that way, even if she can't fully explain it to herself yet.

But as for persuasive. "... I'm sure you can be," she says, neutrally. "But I ''am'' familiar with your current videos," she notes.

"Oh, I see... well, if it's embarrassing you don't have to talk about it," NightPrincess offers, even though she totally knows what it is.

Fitness... "Oh, does it?" She, of course, knows all the gossip about w3hat happenesd. How could she fail to know the gossip about what happened. She'd spread some of it.

As it happens, she has her own complicated feelings about fitness.

"...Still, food is something a lot of people like..."

'Or whatever', yes. There was also that rumor about about her being caught out in cosplay over the summer, too... and not to mention all the ''new'' rumors that have come up around Shinichi's Homunculus.

Is that too high? NightPrincess shrugs a little. "Probably not. If you'd said something like a million, ''that'' would probably be too much... but 1000 could be doable. What are your current challenges with video production, at the moment?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"Thanks. Yeah. Its definitely not the kind of thing I want being common knowledge." Ryuji nods, completely oblivious about a number of things here.

"Yeah...I got injured due to a...fight and now I can't run at my peak levels. I used to be pretty good." He actually feels a little sad that that part of his life might be over. For now, he mentally shoves those feelings away.

"Exactly! Plus you can get a lot of unique stuff at smaller shops like this. Some people might not know about it. Like there's the place in Sumaru with the Banana Ramen. That might be a common story now but its something that at one point was pretty unique."

Ryuji has mostly strong armed himself through the Shinichi Homunculus stuff...still feeling weird around those things during school hours. It was like sitting in the cage with a tiger or something. Still, he is going to have to deal with that sooner or later.

"Heh. I'd love to get to a million someday if possible...But I'd say the biggest challenge is the editing. I tend to work too quick so I make mistakes that make my work come off sloppy? Kinda might also need someone to help me organize it more. Maybe access to some music and effects. I love the star wipe but I've been told there are other wipes too."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa saw Ryuji at his 'embarrassing' job. She has her own 'embarrassing' hobbies. She can at least show enough grace not to needle him further.

She was even supportive then, too! In her own way. She's trying.

But she's at a loss for words when she hears Ryuji talk about the fight. It takes her a moment to muster a "... I'm sorry to hear that."

"Tokyo and Sumaru are very dense cities. There can be lots of smaller shops that are only known to locals..." NightPrincess observes, feeling more on solid ground. "... I've heard about that. Is it any good? It doens't seem like it should work..."

Kazusa is trying to tough it out but it's been taking a toll on her. She hasn't stopped taking the occassional glance out the window, for instance.

Oh thank goodness. He's heard about other wipes already. "Let's start with 1000, for now." She nods. "I've noticed that. ... No offense." A small nod. "We can examine your workflow... and there are options for royalty-free or low-cost music, too." A small smile, at the end. "... there are, but... if you use them sparingly, the star wipe could be... part of a signature style? Like..."

NightPrincess reaches into her bag to pull out a sketchbook and does a very rough sketch. Several different squares in a row, with arrows facing left to right. In the first one is the words 'Let's Eat' and the last one 'Credits' with a bunch of squiggly lines underneath. "Maybe... a star wipe into the video--" There's a star drawn over the arrow from the title screen into the start of the video, followed by another one over the arrow between the last two. ".. and one out into the credits? Like you're wiping into and out of the video?"

She turns the sketchbook around so Ryuji can see.

"... what's your current process like? What kind of camera and software are you using?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"Exactly! Plus with the bigger shops popping up, it can be hard to find the really good stuff." Ryuji nods before offering. "It's pretty damn good. Like a little weird when you first try it but it grows on you."

"Cool. 1000, it is...Heh. I guess I go a little heavy on it but it does look pretty cool." It really doesn't but Ryuji is not an editor. He was just piling things on because he thought that is what you did. "Examine my work flow...Uhh I pretty much just go off the top of my head and film my experience. Do I need to do more than that?" He tilts his head in confusion.

The confusion grows when he is asked about his equipment, pulling out his phone. "I uh record off of my phone? I got a pretty good program with my computer so thats what I'm using mostly. Like I realize it's a very bare bones set up but it's worked so far." He stops as he feels like he's digging a hole that might cost him this deal. He holds up a hand. "But! I can probably afford to get some new equipment with this job!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Mmm... Bigger shops... that's true. Highlighting smaller shops could be a good niche, if you need one..." That might be the corporate family in Kazusa peeking through a little. It's fine. "I'll remember that," she says of the Banana Ramen.

Pretty cool. "Mmm, maybe..." It doesn't, but Kazusa is trying really hard not to just... well, be her normal self.

She pauses when Ryuji says he goes off the top of his head. "I-- Well, that's... still a process, I suppose," she allows. "... we may need... ''some'' kind of process if we're going to work together. I can't exactly take your phone every time you need to make a new video..."

Oh no. This might be more work than she initially thought. But on the other hand, she can't exactly say she's ''surprised''.

A program with his computer. That about lines up with what she expected. "... it's fine. That's something we can work out. I won't ask you to spend more money on equipment, but if you think you can afford it I won't exactly argue..." she tries to say this with a good-natured laugh, but it's a little strained.

She's starting to realize just what she's getting into, but she's determined to preservere.

"... did you bring the files for one of your old videos like I asked you to?" NightPrincess starts to pull a laptop from her bag, opening it up. It's pretty high-end, actually. "... it'll help me get a better idea of what I'll be working with."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"Yeah. That does work." Ryuji says of his 'niche'. Plus the smaller shops tended to let him film because they were often too old to know any better.

"Yeah. I can develop some kind of process. How hard could that be?" He says, not completely understanding what he's getting into. It could be done if he used the internet to figure out some film theory or processes.

He notes the laugh, scratching the back of his head as he laughs sheepishly. "Yeah...I'll look into what works. I mean I can get a good set up since I'm pretty serious about making this into something. Let me know if you have any suggestions." He asks, not knowing that NightPrincess is loaded so probably has a very different view on equipment prices than he does.

Ryuji reaches into his bag and produces a thumb drive with both raw footage and some edited clips on it. "I guess you can see the footage from recorded and after I take out the bits I like. I'm just bad a clipping stuff as you can see."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
That would certainly be a plus, though Kazusa hadn't been thinking of it from that angle.

"Don't... worry about it. We'll figure something out. I don't exactly have a process yet either." She might understand the basics of video editing, but this isn't exactly a regular activity for her, either... not that she'll admit it outright.

''Someone'' has to look like they know what they're doing, after all.

If she has any suggestion. She has a ''lot'' of suggestions. "Let's circle back to that later," she says instead. "I'll do some research, first, before I recommend anything."

She takes the thumb drive and plugs it in, then loads up Debut. She opens the file explorer and starts sifting through the clips as she loads them up. "Mmm... hmmm mm-hmm. Don't worry about it. This program lets me select things very precisely."

She's practiced a little bit, but it's still unfamiliar and a little slow going at the moment. Under her breath she's muttering, "So this should... and I think... and if I adjust... adjust the gain... deltet this... run a filter..."

She fishes out a pair of headphones to listen to something, then turns the laptop towards Ryuji and offers him the headphones. "Okay, this is a really quick job, but... would you like to take a look?"

By basic she means basic. There's no fancy effects yet, and the b-roll doesn't have any sound. But she's actually managed to erase the b-roll's background noise, and she's cut the other clips cleanly to avoid any embarrassing mishaps with mirrors and dancing.

"All you have to do is hit space."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji nods when she says she'll research some options. It was stuff like that that made him trust her input, cupping his chin in thought.

He watches the process eagerly, finding it to be much quicker than HE works. So while Kazusa was struggling, Ryuji was watching her work with amazement. Just a difference in perspective.

He takes the headphones and holds one of the speakers up to his ear, without putting them completely on. He presses space and is completely silent as he watches the footage. "Ooo. This is incredible! It almost looks like a pro did it! It's so much cleaner than I can make it too." He holds out the headphones to her, grinning. "So do I gotta beg you to continue to work on this. Cuz I might need to at this point."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Hold onto that thought about trust, Ryuji. You might need to rethink that assessment in a moment.

If this were a drawing Kazusa would be truly in her element. but working with an audience, with slightly unfamiliar software, was a lot more nerve-wracking than she wanted to let on.

And there is a quiet, pensive tension as she turns the laptop and headphones over. "Well, it ''is'' Professional software... it has the right tools for this kind of work."

She takes the headphones and the laptop back, shaking her head. "You don't have to beg, but... there's something you should know." And she looks a little pensive again as she pulls the beret off, along with the glasses. The wig stays on, but maybe without the other things breaking up her face, ''who'' she is might start to become a little clearer. (The wig took a fair bit of effort, she's not removing it on a whim.)

Kazusa clears her throat, and lets her voice take on its usual sharper edge, though it's a bit more subdued still. "... we've met before. And before you agree to work with me, well..."

She's trying to remain cool and aloof, but there's a quiet tension in her posture. She's about to say it, but she's giving Ryuji enough time to maybe figure it out.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji nods, looking at the computer again. "I mean yeah but like---you use those professional tools so well. I bet if I tried it would look pretty shitty." He offers as he watches her.

"Hmm?" He watches as she takes things off. It doesn't become clear right away but he does get it in a moment. The blonde eyes widen as he looks at Kazusa in horror. "Oh come on! This has to be a joke at this point!"

After a moment, he scratches his head and looks up at her again. He wants to say a lot but he can't find the words before just sighing. "Alright. Shock is over. I really need the help to make this something so...could you please help me, Motojima? NP? Whatever you want me to call you for this...In exchange, I can uhhhh....well what would you want? " He is kinda hoping she doesn't ask him to deal with that Shinichi guy. Like as creepy as a Homunculus is, he sorta did feel bad for the guy so beating him up was kinda out of the question. Plus it wasn't like she knew about his identity as Skull. Heh, with all these secret identities, Ryuji was pretty good at keeping secrets in his opinion. He didn't understand why the Phantoms gave him so much shit.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"... I had to learn how to use it, like anybody else." Okay so she's familiar with the suite of programs already, it's fine.

Kazusa sighs. "It's... not a joke. Annnd I'm sorry for the disguise. I wasn't trying to ''fool'' you, exactly, just... show you that I meant business." By deciving him. That tracks.

"... how do you think I happened to have an editor's phone number ready so fast?"

"You can call me Motojima or NP," Kazusa says with a small shrug. "I'll help. That's kind of the point of all of this, after all." She's ''not'' going to ask Ryuji to help fight the Homunculus. She tried to ''keep'' him from helping during that confrontation in the hallway, after all, to keep him from getting hurt by the supernatural.

Another shrug. "Honestly? I don't really want anything much. I just have some very simple terms. First, you don't tell anybody about this. You breathe a word of this at school and I'll deny it. Second, I want to be credited in the videos as NightPrincess. Maybe with a website link if I set one up. And third, I don't get on camera. I'll edit, I'll help with planning and maybe even filming, but I'm strictly behind the camera and behind the scenes."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji grumbles as she explains herself. He feels kinda dumb for not catching that Nightprincess was her. Then again, he has had his mind on other things so maybe it was understandable he missed this. Yeah. That is how he is recovering from this.

He listens to her agreement and conditions, nodding. "Fine. It's not like I want the trouble either so you got a deal. I'll work on getting better at capturing everything and you work your magic. Easy enough."

"That said, just come to me next time? I'm gonna start wondering if you're gonna crawl out from under my bed or somethin'." He smiles some but sees that posture and look, prompting him to smile less.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
It's not like Kazusa went all-out either, but... she was kind of concerned Ryuki would just turn right around if he spotted her sitting in the booth.

"Deal. I'll keep this under wraps, too." She nods. "We can work on the filming side of things together. I meant what I said about researching new camera options--but only if you really want to."

"Hmph." Kazusa squares her shoulders as she sits upright. "Just because we're working together on your videos doesn't mean I need to go crawling around under your bed, Sakamoto-san. Don't be absurd." Oh, ''that'' sounds more like her. But after a moment she nods. "... but I'll remember that. No more disguises."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]